By Daniel Feliciano

31st Jul, 2022 | 6:40pm

Everton given £25m price for Maxwel Cornet to do transfer in instalments

Everton have been told it would cost them £25m to sign Maxwel Cornet from Burnley if they don’t want to pay his £17.5m release clause up front, say The Daily Mail.

The Toffees are interested in signing the Ivory Coast international as they look to bolster their attack following the sale of Richarlison to Tottenham earlier in the transfer window.

But after having an initial £13m plus £4m in add-ons bid rejected, Everton were told to pay the whole release clause in one lump.

The club have already agreed personal terms with the 25-year-old, with a five-year deal worth £67,000 per week on the table, but Burnley want a package worth £25m if they’re to accept a lesser up front payment.

West Ham and Newcastle are also in the race for the player’s signature, in what would be a bizarre circumstance of paying a fee higher than a release clause for a player.

Odd

If there is a release clause to be paid, and the player has agreed to come, then a transfer literally can’t be any simpler to complete at that point.

Everton are obviously not in an ideal position financially, but Cornet would have been on their transfer target list partly because of that release clause making him attainable.

Considering that financial position, it would be a really bizarre and odd decision if the board chose to commit more funds towards a deal over a period of time than necessary when they could pay less and get it done now.

Richarlison’s sale money is still there to be spent with Dwight McNeil costing around £15m in total according to reports, and they need to improve the attack.

Cornet does that, and clearly wants to join, so dithering over a few million up front or paying it all just seems pointless especially considering the competition for his signature. Just get it done.