Jean-Philippe Gbamin to return to Everton after loan, Lampard to assess him in pre-season
Jean Philippe-Gbamin will return to Everton this summer with CSKA Moscow turning down their option to sign him permanently after a loan spell, according to The Athletic [June 1].
Gbamin joined Everton three years ago but has made just eight appearances for the Toffees since due to a nightmare of fitness problems and not being selected.
But after joining CSKA in February on loan he was able to keep fit and played regularly before the Russian season ended with the side winning just two of their last eight for a 5th placed finish.
And according to The Athletic the club have decided not to sign him permanently after he failed to impress over an extended period of time.
The player will return to Finch Farm for pre-season where Frank Lampard will run the rule over him and consider re-integrating him into the first-team squad at the club.
However any bids for him will not be dismissed immediately with the club looking to raise funds to strengthen for next season, and Lampard sees midfield as a key area to improve.
Time to go
There is nothing that Lampard could see in pre-season that we don’t already know about Gbamin in a blue shirt and it’s time he was let go permanently.
Obviously you need bids to be able to shift him out, but the idea of getting him back in the first-team picture is nonsensical at this point because it’s clear he’s not good enough.
He was unable to make a lasting impact in Moscow, so the expectation that he could be a positive in the Premier League now for a team that struggled horribly last season is crazy.
The club will surely look to shift him whether it’s a loan or permanently, but he still has two years remaining on his deal if nobody shows an interest.
If Lampard is able to turn him around it could be his best coaching achievement, but in reality he should look to replace him as soon as possible
In other Everton news, ‘No talks whatsoever’ as backroom staff shuffle denied at Goodison Park
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