Everton may now need rethink as Omari Benjamin transfer twist emerges at Arsenal
Everton may now need a transfer rethink after a development has emerged on Arsenal forward Omari Benjamin.
The Liverpool Echo reported on its website on 4 March that the Welsh U-19 international was on trial with the Toffees after coming through the ranks at the Emirates.
The 18-year-old scored the winner for the Blues U-21s in their 2-1 victory over Tottenham in Premier League 2 on 2 March.
It wasn’t entirely clear what the forward’s situation was with the Gunners, but it appeared as though he was free to leave the North London club following his trial at Goodison Park.
A twist has now emerged, however, after Benjamin was named on the bench for Arsenal U-18s in their game against Fulham on 9 March.
The teenager came off the bench at half-time, but he couldn’t help his team turn the game around as they fell to a 1-0 defeat.
This development suggests that the Toffees either decided not to sign him, which would be surprising given the impression he made during his trial, or the Gunners want to keep hold of him.
If it is the latter, then that is a major blow for the Blues as the forward could potentially have a bright future in the game.
They are looking to transform the way they bring young players to the club to create a better pathway for exciting talents to progress into the first team.
That has been emphasised by the appointment of James Vaughan on 12 March as the Toffees’ new Head of Academy Recruitment and Player Pathways.
It’s unknown whether the 35-year-old, who started his new role after previously joining the club as Loans Pathway Manager, had anything to do with bringing Benjamin to Merseyside initially, but he will now be looking to scour the market for any potential opportunities.
It’s clear that the Blues need to try some new methods after very few academy players have managed to make an impact in the senior side over the past few years.
That is a trend that simply has to change to provide Sean Dyche with more first-team options in the future and potentially earn higher transfer fees for some of their homegrown talents.
In other Everton news, Moshiri was left without £200million paperwork to sign as a PSR blunder has emerged.
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