Arnaut Danjuma of Everton

Danjuma exit could hurt Everton at crucial time as agent reveals transfer talks

The severity of Dwight McNeil's injury is yet to be disclosed. Any absence could provide the minutes Arnaut Danjuma wants - if not, Everton could have a problem

09 Jan 2024, 15:07 by Joe Thomas · Liverpool Echo

Arnaut Danjuma departure could hurt Everton at crucial time as agent reveals transfer talks

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Arnaut Danjuma’s future at Everton remains uncertain with Lyon pushing for the winger to move to France.

The 26-year-old and Everton moved beyond the chaotic collapse of talks between the two last January to strike a season-long loan deal with his parent club Villarreal in the summer.

But minutes have been hard to come by for the Netherlands international, who has found himself behind Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison for much of the first half of the campaign.

That could be a source of concern for his parent club that may prompt a review of the arrangement according to Danjuma’s agent.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Michael Moses-Jarman said conversations over Danjuma’s deal with Everton were taking place. While he stressed the winger, who started the club’s most recent game, the FA Cup trip to Crystal Palace, was happy on Merseyside, he said there was an awareness that more opportunity was crucial to his career.

Mr Moses-Jarman said: "There are conversations afloat, we've had interest. Look, he's happy and settled at Everton, he's got a contract, so it's only respectful that that's the way the conversation stands. He's not getting his minutes at the moment under Mr Dyche and what's best for his career is to play football. So yeah, there's been interest and conversations ongoing with Lyon, it's been reported in the media, that's why I'll confirm it."

Speaking after reports first surfaced, Dyche said he was not aware of any concern from Villarreal over the player’s minutes and that, even if he was, it would not alter his selection plans. A fortnight on, the issue now appears to be a live one that the Blues will have to carefully manage over the coming weeks.

The situation is particularly pertinent given McNeil was stretchered off at Palace with an ankle injury, a full assessment of which has not yet been made public. Should McNeil face time on the sidelines then Danjuma will be crucial to Dyche’s plans - potentially giving him the minutes that the player and Villarreal believe are crucial. But should Lyon convince Danjuma and his parent club that they are a better destination then Everton could end up without senior backup should McNeil’s injury be serious.

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