Everton transfer news: U-turn at Goodison Park amid Arnaut Danjuma and Dwight McNeil situation
Everton are now “reluctant” to let Arnaut Danjuma leave the club thanks to Dwight McNeil’s injury, according to the Daily Mail.
Simon Jones reported via the paper’s website on 12 January that despite interest in the Dutch winger from Lyon the Toffees aren’t comfortable ending his loan early after teammate McNeil was stretchered off against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup on 4 January.
The stance would appear to represent a significant about-turn at Goodison Park, after it was reported with some confidence that Danjuma, 26, was exit-bound for France this month, and his agent confirmed talks were in progress with Lyon on talkSPORT (9 January).
Everton’s attempt to bring in Hannibal Mejbri on loan from Manchester United looked to clearly back that up, as Premier League clubs can only have two players on loan at any one time – Jack Harrison is also at the club from Leeds United.
Sean Dyche had batted away any suggestion that Danjuma was anything other than a Toffees player this season when asked about it in his Friday press conference ahead of the Aston Villa game.
Bad timing
If Everton are going to be able to strengthen at all in the loan market then one of Danjuma and Harrison will need to depart, and since the latter is a regular starter it seems highly unlikely to be him.
Following an underwhelming six-month loan at Tottenham, which he ducked out on the Toffees at the last minute for 12 months ago, Danjuma has only had a slightly more fruitful time on Merseyside.
The Villarreal man has made 17 appearances and scored two goals in all competitions but has started only four times in the Premier League.
Dyche likely needs to play down the suggestion that the club might have been prepared to let him go if he hopes to get more of a return over the second half of the season.
On balance it would probably be preferable for Everton to secure a new loanee who could make a greater impact between now and the end of the campaign, but with Mejbri opting to go to Sevilla [Mike McGrath, 11 January] and no guarantee that someone else can be acquired by the end of the month it looks like plans have changed, at least for now.
McNeil’s injury has come at a crucial point but Dyche revealed that the 24-year-old had been “lucky” and it didn’t appear to be as serious as first feared.
It has however highlighted the risk of Danjuma departing, unless there is confidence of landing an alternative in the next couple of weeks.
In other Everton news, an “excellent” talent is being lined up for a possible move to Goodison Park.