Everton remain in talks with Wolves for Leander Dendoncker after rejected bid
Everton are still holding discussions with Wolves as they search for an agreement on price to sign Leander Dendoncker, according to Football Transfers.
The Toffees had an opening bid of £8million rejected by the Molineux-based club but talks are continuing as all sides are looking for a resolution before time runs out on the transfer window.
After Matheus Nunes arrived in Bruno Lage’s squad from Sporting for £42.2million [Sky Sports], Dendoncker’s place is now under threat, increasing the likelihood that he will be sold before deadline day.
According to the Football Transfers report, Wolves are looking to recoup the money they spent to buy the Belgian from Anderlecht four years ago and will therefore want around €14million [£11.95million].
Everton boss Frank Lampard is understood to be a big admirer of the 27-year-old, having apparently considered signing him at Chelsea, and his versatility as a player who can feature in midfield or defence is a key selling point.
Race against time
The Toffees sound eager to get the manager a player that he is a big fan of, and there isn’t a huge gap in the valuations after the rejected offer.
If these talks could lead to the two sides meeting somewhere in the middle there is surely decent scope for an agreement to be reached before the window shuts.
The Belgium international played the full 90 minutes of the opening two Premier League games this season under Lage, but after Nunes’ big-money arrival on 18 August Dendoncker’s involvement has decreased to half an hour at Tottenham, then just a single minute in the draw with Newcastle at the weekend.
The writing therefore appears to be on the wall for his prospects this season and for a relatively modest fee he could be on the way.
It is well known that money is tight at Goodison, although the up and down nature of the window has made it harder to gauge what the true situation is in that regard.
He will also arrive into a pretty crowded picture on Merseyside, with Amadou Onana also signed for a big fee and Idrissa Gueye expected to follow after a late breakthrough.
With the likes of Alex Iwobi, Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure already in the squad it would suggest that the battle for places is set to be fierce, but Lampard appears determined to add Dendoncker into that mix.