Everton transfer news as Sky Sports pundit reacts to Reiss Nelson pursuit amid £35,000-a-week contract standoff
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Kevin Campbell believes Reiss Nelson “has got what it takes” to succeed at Everton but has sounded a note of caution on leaving London.
A report from 90min on 5 March put the Toffees in the picture for the Arsenal ace along with the likes of West Ham, Crystal Palace and Southampton, and the Daily Mail reported doubts remaining on agreement of improved terms to his current £35,000-a-week deal at the Emirates on 17 April.
A free transfer would be beneficial to an Everton side whose finances are once again under the spotlight in a negative way, but Sky Sports pundit Campbell believes it would be a risky move on both sides for a player who has made 12 appearances this season, and just five in the Premier League.
The former Arsenal and Everton striker exclusively told Goodison News: “He’s a very talented boy. He has performed a few times for Arsenal but he hasn’t played a lot of football.
“You’d be taking a chance, taking a chance on a young, talented player.
“If Everton want to do that that’s fine. I think he has got what it takes.
“But everything can change when you leave London. So this, I need to see.”
Campbell speaks from experience. Three goals and two assists in just 107 minutes of Premier League action is some return for the 23-year-old, and could yet prove to be the difference in the title race.
But for a player who has only made a total of 28 English top flight appearances it is difficult to tell whether he is has been over-efficient in his rare opportunities this year or is truly ready to break out, while Everton have had an up and down record on signing supposed bit-part Gunners in recent years.
Alex Iwobi has ultimately proven the doubters wrong after he went from being a peripheral player at Arsenal to an Everton regular, but Theo Walcott’s move was less of a clear success and a loan spell for Philippe Senderos went by without many people noticing, although the lack of a transfer fee if the Toffees were able to win this race would make the risk on Nelson much lower.