Everton transfer news as Chelsea and Arsenal line up to sign Amadou Onana
Arsenal and Chelsea are lining up to sign Everton midfielder Amadou Onana in the summer transfer window, according to Het Nieuwsblad.
The report says the Toffees are smelling money and aiming to recoup between £50-£60million for the Belgium international, who only moved to Goodison Park from Lille for £33million last summer.
Even if Sean Dyche’s side avoid Premier League relegation this season, the chances of Onana leaving the club remain at 99%.
The Gunners and Chelsea both tried to lure Onana from Everton’s grasp in the winter window, but the 21-year-old was reluctant to leave the club after just six months and wanted to contribute to their preservation in the top flight.
Het Nieuwsblad has shared that both clubs are in “constant contact with the player’s entourage” but that every major club in England is tracking his performances.
Oh dear
It was only going to be a matter of time before Onana’s performances attracted the attention of Europe’s elite, and it now seems that Everton have a fight on their hands to keep his services.
The former Lille player has been a shining light in an otherwise tricky season for the Toffees, and he has taken yet further strides since the arrival of Dyche.
If Everton maintain their Premier League status, the question remains whether the club should sell their prized jewel to bolster several other areas of their squad.
Considering the financial difficulties Farhad Moshiri finds himself in right now – needing significant funding for the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium and in the midst of an FFP investigation – it looks like Dyche is going to have a limited war chest to attack the summer transfer window with right now.
A sale in the region of £50-£60million for Onana would divide fans but could allow Dyche to sign a much-needed centre-forward as well as probably sign a more-than-able replacement in the heart of midfield.
Either way, it wouldn’t be a bad move for the Toffees to start a transfer auction for Onana’s services and see how far they can drive the midfielder’s price up.