Toffees duo set to head for the North East in season-long loan deals
Middlesbrough are in deep discussions to land Everton pair Yannick Bolasie and Mohamed Besic on loan for the season.
The Northern Echo has claimed that the Teesiders have plotted a double raid on Goodison Park and wish to bring the out-of-favour duo to the Riverside Stadium to help their promotion push this term.
Besic spent the second half of last season on loan with Boro and would arguably welcome the chance to play first-team football, albeit in a lower division.
Bolasie, too, should enjoy playing for his former boss Tony Pulis – the duo having worked together during the latter’s brief spell in charge of Crystal Palace – after falling down the pecking order with the Blues.
The midfield pairing want regular minutes on the pitch and won’t get that under Toffees boss Marco Silva due to the wealth of options in the centre of midfield and on the wing.
Both players have reportedly spent the past two days with Boro discussing the terms of season-long loan deals, and it appears to be only a matter of time before there is confirmation of their temporary departures.
Bolasie hasn’t featured at all since Silva took charge due to a bout of illness in pre-season, as well as the likes of Theo Walcott, Richarlison and Ademola Lookman standing in his way on the flanks.
Besic must contend with Morgan Schneiderlin, Idrissa Gueye, James McCarthy -when he returns from a broken leg – and Gylfi Sigurdsson for a berth in the centre of the park.
The chances of either breaking into the team are very slim at best, and they would get into Boro’s side under Pulis and help the Championship side a great deal this term.
Leeds United and Aston Villa remain interested in thwarting Boro’s deals for Besic and Bolasie respectively, but both should agree to join Boro instead.
Boro have until 31st August to wrap up the loan moves for both despite the Premier League transfer window – at least where incomings are concerned – closing almost three weeks ago.