Chermiti packs bags ahead of move to Everton as personal terms issue rumbles on
Everton striker target Youssef Chermiti has his “bags packed” ahead of a move to Goodison Park, but disagreements over personal terms has caused delay, according to Record.
The Portuguese newspaper reported (3 August, page 15) that Chermiti rejected Everton’s initial salary offer and is still training with his current side Sporting Lisbon, but the deal is expected to be completed by the end of the week.
Chermiti will cost the Toffees £12.9million up front with a potential of £4.3million in add-ons, while Sporting holds a 10% sell-on clause for the Portuguese youth international.
Approaching
With the signing of Leeds United’s Willy Gnonto looking unlikely now [TEAMtalk], securing Chermiti will do a lot to ease anxious Toffees fans.
It was reported that after the initial rejection, Everton would come back with an increased contract proposal to convince the youngster to join the club [O Jogo].
Everton have been active in the forward market this summer with the acquisition of Villarreal’s Arnaut Danjuma on loan, but more firepower is required if they are to improve in their 17th-place Premier League finish last season.
Chermerti is unlikely to come in as a regular starter next season under Dyche. At just 19 years of age, he lacks the experience to make a genuine impact in his debut season with just 21 total appearances for Sporting’s senior side to date.
However, with such a significant price tag, Dyche will certainly be eyeing him for a bigger role in future campaigns. He could learn a lot from more seasoned forwards like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Danjuma this season before leading the line himself, theoretically.
While his goal-scoring record is nothing shocking, his three goals and two assists in just 9.4 90s of football for Sporting last season show that he can make regular contributions in attack and perhaps just needed more sustained game time to truly show what he’s capable of.
While issues regarding his contract may cause some concern for the club, the deal looks to be completed and these contract issues are likely to be ironed out sooner rather than later.
Chermiti is a risky signing due to his lack of experience and career goal contributions but has attracted attention from other Premier League sides Bournemouth and Wolves [Daily Mail], so his profile and skill must be adaptable to the top flight.
Time can only tell, but something could be cooking in the background next season at Goodison Park.
In other Everton news, one of the Toffees’ young forwards has been tipped for an EFL loan departure this summer.