GN View: Everton face blow as Dejan Kulusevski closes in on Tottenham move
Everton look set to miss out on Dejan Kulusevski this month as the Swedish winger edges closer to a move to Tottenham, dealing the Toffees another blow.
Everton have already signed three players this month, with all of Nathan Patterson, Vitaly Mykolenko and Anwar El Ghazi joining the club.
But Rafa Benitez has since been sacked as manager of the club and the rest of the window has been dominated by their manager chase, rather than brining in players to help bolster the squad.
With just one win in their last 14 games across all competitions, Everton find themselves in 16th place just four points above the relegation zone.
There had been talk of potentially moving for Juventus outcast Dejan Kulusevski on loan and even tabled a bid [Corriere dello Sport], but The Athletic are now reporting that Tottenham have prioritised a move for the 21-year-old.
That would see Everton’s bid fall by the wayside, as they continue to wait on bringing in a first-team manager before Monday’s deadline.
With the manager situation down to Frank Lampard, Vitor Pereira and Duncan Ferguson, there is little suggestion any business will be done before the window closes.
Everton are said to be keen to bring in a midfielder if they can, which would all but rule out a move for Kulusevski anyway.
But the Sweden international has all the attributes needed in the current Everton squad for the situation they’re in.
He has already taken the burden of a relegation scrap on his shoulders, helping Parma to stay in Serie A before moving to Juventus, and he has the ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck.
He’d also be an immediate upgrade on Andros Townsend and would form a great partnership with Dominic Calvert-Lewin with his crossing ability, with Cristiano Ronaldo even labelling him a ‘great talent‘ during their time in Turin together..
Unfortunately it seems as though they’ve been pipped to the side because of all the dilly-dallying over their manager situation, and it means a golden opportunity has been missed for the Toffees.
In other Everton news, Everton want to sign 17y/o Brazilian starlet, battling with Barcelona – report