Everton transfer news: Amadou Onana exit demands disputed amid Chelsea and Arsenal interest
Amadou Onana has not told Everton he wants to leave but does remain the most likely man to be sacrificed in order to fund incoming deals, according to i News.
Niewsblad had reported on Tuesday evening (20 June) that the Belgian star was “very unhappy and absolutely wants to leave” the club, who had given him a €55million price tag [£47million] amid interest from Chelsea and Arsenal.
That suggestion has now been refuted by the latest report, but the presence of the two Premier League giants in the race to sign him has been backed up, with the club’s finances possibly sending the 21-year-old on his way anyway.
Mark Douglas writes for i News: “The need to comply with Financial Fair play rules also hangs over the club and there’s an expectation that Everton will have to sell another asset to fund much of their transfer business.
“Of the potential sales, Amadou Onana is the man most likely to depart. Reports in Belgium this week claimed he had voiced a desire to leave but that’s not understood to be the case.
“But with interest from Chelsea and Arsenal in the 21-year-old, there is a feeling inside the club that he is the most vulnerable to an offer.”
Painful
It seemed unlikely that the Belgian international had gone from detailing how he would “never forget” escaping relegation on the final day, while calling Everton a “legendary club” in an interview with L’Equipe (30 May) to having such a negative outlook three weeks later.
Given the struggles the club have had throughout his season on Merseyside it wouldn’t have been a huge shock if he had expressed such sentiments already, but instead he rebuffed interest from the two London sides in January and has been quite public about his connection to the Toffees.
It looks like it might not keep him at Goodison Park either way, and if he does leave this summer it will be the second year running that a player who has made their positive feelings about the fans well known has been moved on, after Richarlison’s move to Tottenham.
It is some positive that Onana doesn’t look like he would be leaving under a cloud, but it is difficult to dress it up as a win in general that the young star looks set to move on again after just a season.
His sale is likely to be for significantly more than the £33.5million that he arrived from Lille for if it does go through, but if the money doesn’t have a greater effect than it did a year ago the club could be right back here next summer.
Attacking signings will be crucial, while replacing some of the departures in defence will also be necessary, and although midfield is probably the area where the club is best stocked it will still be a disappointing if Onana leaves that group.