Everton on the verge of Ruben Vinagre 2.0 issue as Youssef Chermiti exit mooted already
Everton have made some terrible signings in recent years and it will be hard to find any that were worse than the loan deal of Ruben Vinagre last summer.
Frank Lampard signed the Portuguese left-back on a season-long loan from Sporting CP but essentially refused to use him, before an injury ended his campaign early ahead of Sean Dyche saving the club from relegation.
That allowed Dyche to spend money in the summer to strengthen the squad with the arrivals of Ashley Young, Beto, Jack Harrison, Arnaut Danjuma and another young Portuguese starlet in Youssef Chermiti.
Beto has hit the ground running and impressed fans with his willingness to run and the way he fits Dyche’s style up front, while Harrison’s debut was delayed by injury before he made a stunning entrance in the win over Bournemouth after his debut in the wing over Aston Villa.
Danjuma has been hot and cold but his quality is clear for all to see while Young has brought composure and experience to the squad.
But so far Chermiti has done next to nothing in the famous blue shirt, and now there have been suggestions that he could be on his way out of the club in January with a loan move mooted.
Everton spent big to bring him to the club, agreeing to pay Sporting £14.9m despite the fact his top-flight experience was minimal and his goal record was nothing to write home about.
By adding Beto to the forward line and helping Dominic Calvert-Lewin regain his fitness and performance levels to the point where he is still first-choice, Chermiti’s arrival has been somewhat forgotten.
But the difference between Vinagre’s pointless transfer and Chermiti’s failed move so far is the fact that Everton have agreed to pay a lot of money for one, while the other one was allowed to leave at the end of the campaign with very little issue.
If Chermiti is allowed to move on in January and fails to light up wherever he ends up, then it won’t do him any favours when it comes to breaking into the side at Goodison Park or Bramley Moore Dock in the future.
That could see the club look for more reinforcements for themselves, and Chermiti’s career at Everton could be over before it even starts.
In other Everton news, star man set for international recall after he was axed last week.