Everton striker Cenk Tosun keen to stay at the club amid exit rumours
Everton striker Cenk Tosun is eager to stay at the club and fight for a place in the team, according to Greg O’Keeffe.
The Turkish international has played just six minutes in the Premier League this season, coming on as a late substitute in the 4-1 defeat to Liverpool last week (1 December).
With his contract at Goodison Park expiring next summer (2022), he has been heavily linked with an exit in the January transfer window [Takvim].
However in a Q&A on The Athletic’s website, O’Keeffe suggested that Tosun may still have a future on Merseyside.
He said: “I think he could be a decent option from the bench in tight games because by all accounts he’s still clinical in training.
“Obviously he has no pace but he’s a goal scorer and wants to stay and fight for his place.”
No thanks
Surely it will be best for all parties if Tosun leaves Goodison Park in January.
He has scored just 11 goals in 59 appearances since signing from Besiktas for £27million in January 2018.
The striker’s lack of opportunities under Rafa Benitez this season – even with Dominic Calvert-Lewin out injured – suggests that he does not have much hope of breaking into the team. For the Premier League game against Crystal Palace today (12 December), he was not even included in the matchday squad.
At 30 years old, there is little chance of Tosun improving and rediscovering his form at Goodison Park.
Everton need to do everything they can to sell him in January in order to get a fee for him (however minimal) instead of letting him leave for nothing at the end of the season.
With Besiktas interested in re-signing the striker [Takvim] the opportunity is there to get rid.
In other Everton news, Andros Townsend has heaped praise on one of his teammates.
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