Everton transfer update as loanee Niels Nkounkou has option ‘slipped’ into Saint-Etienne contract
Saint-Etienne have “slipped a purchase option” into the deal involving Everton loanee Niels Nkounkou, according to Score.fr.
The 22-year-old is currently on loan from the Toffees at Ligue 2 side Saint-Etienne, having spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Championship side Cardiff City.
And with two goals and six assists from just 11 Ligue 2 matches, Saint-Etienne have reportedly added a buy option into his loan deal.
“Of the 11 games played by the player who was on loan to Cardiff in the first part of the season, the Greens won six, with three draws and two losses,” according to Score.fr.
“Although Niels Nkounkou is in contract with the Toffees until June 2024, Saint-Etienne has slipped a purchase option into the young player’s loan, which could allow him to continue with his left side at the end of this 2022/2023 season.
“Case to follow for the leaders of Saint-Etienne and the Franco-Congolese… ”
Uncertain future
Signed by Everton from Marseille in 2020, Nkounkou has made just seven first team appearances for the Toffees, with the left-back now into his third loan spell while under contract with the English club.
But following spells at Standard Liege and Cardiff, his time at Saint-Etienne is proving the most productive so far, with the French club pushing him into left-midfield in recent matches.
That has resulted in the player adding plenty of goals and assists to his game, which has subsequently alerted the Ligue 2 side to his permanent signature.
Despite impressing on loan, Nkounkou seemingly has no future at Goodison Park, with Sean Dyche preferring centre-back Ben Godfrey at left-back, with natural full-back Vitaliy Mykolenko as his deputy. The Toffees will reportedly put the 22-year-old up for sale this summer.
Nkounkou could, however, make a case for a role further forward under Dyche, particularly with the current struggles that Everton have in the final third, with the Toffees in need of such creativity in their fight for Premier League safety.