Mohammed Kudus open to Everton transfer as loan-to-buy discussed amid Dele Alli saga
Everton are in talks over potentially signing Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus on a loan-to-buy basis amid doubts surrounding Dele Alli’s future at Goodison, according to The Athletic.
The news outlet reported on 23 August that Alli, 26, is set to miss Everton’s Carabao Cup clash with Fleetwood Town with the ex-Tottenham midfielder closing in on a move to Besiktas.
It is understood that Alli has been told by Everton “that he is free to leave for a fresh start in Turkey” with talks underway over a move to Istanbul.
The Athletic adds that discussions are being held about 22-year-old Kudus making the switch to Goodison Park, potentially on loan with an option to buy clause tied in.
While the Ghana midfielder “has indicated he would be open to a move” to Merseyside, Everton are yet to reach an agreement with Ajax.
One out, one in?
Kudus can be seen as an attacking midfield option to replace Alli, should the ex-Spurs man leave Goodison Park in the coming days to move to Turkey.
Kudus has played four times this season for Ajax, featuring as an attacking midfielder, right-winger and a centre-forward [transfermarkt].
He’s on the fringes of the senior side at Ajax with all of those four appearances coming as a substitute while last term he only managed 16 Eredivise outings and only four of them were as a starter.
It’s clear that the Acca-born midfielder isn’t completely in the first-team picture in Amsterdam – but neither is Alli at Everton.
We wouldn’t be shocked if he’s a like-for-like replacement for Alli.
Although he’s barely played a role at Goodison Park, he’s still someone in the squad who’s there if needed and losing him would be a loss – to a degree – for the squad as a whole.
It remains to be seen if this deal gets done.
Usually, if the player wants the move, it’ll get completed somehow but if Ajax cannot agree to a loan-to-buy deal with an Everton side crippled by Financial Fair Play restrictions, we might have to look elsewhere.