Youssef Chermiti ‘essential’ medical news emerges as striker not on Everton flight Friday
Youssef Chermiti hasn’t joined his Sporting teammates for their trip to face Everton on Saturday (5 August) amid his expected transfer, according to Record.
The Portuguese outlet reported on their website Friday (4 August) that the 19-year-old was not on the flight to England the same day with the squad as he is expected to arrive separately in the “next few days” to carry out “essential medical tests”.
The Toffees had wanted to get the striker in ahead of the meeting between the two sides but it appears that will now not be the case.
The Portuguese forward is due to be Sean Dyche’s third signing of his time as Everton boss, and the first player the club have paid a fee for since last summer.
Wait goes on
It doesn’t appear that the latest update should suggest anything is awry with Chermiti’s move to Goodison Park, with Record stating he “is leaving”.
But as so often it looks to be proving slightly trickier than first hoped when the news of an impending deal between the clubs emerged.
The sooner he can join Dyche’s squad the better in terms of getting up to speed to contribute to the start of the season.
But missing a friendly that he may not have featured in shouldn’t be a huge problem, as long as the medical tests that are expected in the coming days don’t turn up anything unexpected and the deal does go through.
The manager still needs more arrivals in the next few weeks ahead of deadline day, and will want to get business done before too much of the new campaign has already passed.
If Dominic Calvert-Lewin can be fit for the opening few games it will be less of an issue for Chermiti, or a second senior striker signing, being available.
But should the Englishman be struck down with another fitness set back it would leave the squad once again looking very light up top.
In other Everton news, another first-team player was missing from training amid talks for him to leave the club.