Everton to be hijacked in bid for Maxwel Cornet by Newcastle United
Newcastle United are ready to usurp Everton in the race to sign Burnley winger Maxwel Cornet by triggering his release clause, according to talkSPORT.
The 25-year-old can be bought without any intervention from the Clarets for just £17.5million but the Toffees are instead pursuing a loan deal which has already been rejected.
Eddie Howe meanwhile is not prepared to take any chances and has given the go-ahead for the Magpies to trigger the Ivorian international’s release clause and begin contract talks.
Chelsea also looked at signing Cornet earlier in the window and Nottingham Forest could not agree on personal terms with the attacker but Everton remain in the hunt.
They now face the prospect of being behind the eight ball with Newcastle stealing a march on the opposition by skipping club negotiations and going straight to the player.
Just do it
Everton have been doing a delicate dance with Burnley all summer having waited to announce the signing of James Tarkowski until after his contract expired at Turf Moor and now with Cornet too.
Kevin Thelwell could have just offered to pay that release clause and be done with the Championship side but he has instead insisted on trying to negotiate which has come back to bite the Toffees on the backside.
The Ivorian looks likely to head to St James’ Park instead of Goodison Park now and you can hardly blame him because the Toon have gone in all guns blazing and done whatever is necessary to have the chance to talk to their main target.
None of that has happened at Finch Farm with Everton too busy dilly-dallying about minute details and Frank Lampard’s squad is not going to improve because of it.
Thelwell is already under pressure to perform as the club’s director of football and he has to be more assertive to get what he wants.