Everton may now miss out on Andre Ayew as Sky Sports report Nottingham Forest talks
Everton may now be on the brink of missing out on yet another transfer target with Andre Ayew in talks over a short-term deal with Nottingham Forest.
The Toffees inexplicably came through the entire January transfer window without making a single signing, despite being in major need of reinforcements after the team’s form deteriorated.
Free agent forward Ayew can be signed past the deadline, and is in England with Everton reportedly working on a deal [talkSPORT, 2 January], but they might not get the chance if Steve Cooper can fit him into the Forest squad first amid a potential exit for Lewis O’Brien.
Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett reported on Twitter Tuesday (2 February): “Excl: [Nottingham Forest] negotiating short term deal with Andre Ayew, who’s a free agent. He’s in Nottingham now.
“BUT-if Lewis O’Brien’s loan move to [Blackburn Rovers] collapses Steve Cooper doesn’t have room for both players in his 25-man squad list that has to be delivered to the Premier League at 3pm.”
It is fair to wonder whether 33-year-old Ayew is really the answer to the Toffees’ attacking issues, after leaving Al Sadd in Qatar.
He would appear to be a downgrade on the departed Anthony Gordon, so even if he was signed it would surely be underwhelming to the supporters.
But after missing out on numerous attacking targets as the transfer window approached the deadline it will inspire even less confidence to also fail in another pursuit after it has passed.
Frank Lampard was sacked midway through the window and Sean Dyche was finally appointed with little over 24 hours left, but the new boss has been given nobody to improve the squad.
And it looks like if O’Brien leaves the City Ground for Ewood Park Dyche won’t even get the free agent Ghana international.
The situation was already bad but the disappointment of deadline day on top might have been a bridge too far.