Everton transfer news: January budget update with Arnaut Danjuma exit ready to go – Sky Sports
Everton have no budget whatsoever this month unless players leave and will have to sell to even afford a loan fee, according to Sky Sports.
The broadcaster reported via the 2.15pm update on their transfer live-blog on 15 January quite how tight the finances at Goodison Park are during the January window.
Arnaut Danjuma’s potential move to Lyon in Ligue 1 is “ready” if the Toffees allow him to end his loan on Merseyside early.
The Dutchman started in the goalless draw against Aston Villa and could have had two assists, following Sean Dyche’s indication that he would remain an Everton player going forward after injury to Dwight McNeil sparked an apparent u-turn on a departure.
Bargain basement
Evidently it is going to be very tricky for anyone to arrive at the club this month if the spending power is so restricted, since even a Danjuma exit will only ease the wage bill and won’t muster up any cash to pay a loan fee.
There is the slight possibility that borrowing a player who is in need of game time without a payment up front could be found, but only if the 26-year-old vacates one of the slots, with Jack Harrison occupying the other from Leeds United.
On the strength of the Villarreal man’s first half of the campaign there wouldn’t be too many who would argue he is indispensable, yet had Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored when sprung by Danjuma’s perfect through-ball at the weekend he would have assisted the only goal of the game as a well-timed reminder of what he can provide at his best, so perhaps the caution at the club in the face of his possible French exit is justified.
The only other route to a transfer would require sales to be made, with Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana both wanted and capable of generating a lot of money, but few would like to see either depart this month, least of all Dyche.
It could prove vital for Everton to have someone to turn to behind the striker if Abdoulaye Doucouré is again unavailable since the three defeats to end 2023 coincided with the Malian’s injury absence.
But it appears to be a major stretch to land one, not least since Hannibal Mejbri has followed through with his move to Sevilla, so barring movement towards the exit it looks like it could be a second successive January window with no signings made.
In other Everton news, a club have confirmed an agreement with the Toffees over one midfielder has been reached.