With all the hectic comings and goings at Everton this summer one previous signing who has slipped a little below the radar is forward Henry Onyekuru. So what’s happened to him?
Everton fans might remember that the Nigerian was signed back in the summer of 2017 for a fee of around £7 million. He was one of Ronald Koeman’s less heralded additions that transfer window.
The talented, pacey young forward was immediately loaned out to Belgian side Anderlecht for the duration of the 2017-18 season.
So far so good. He had a fine first half to that season, which indicated that he could have a real future at Everton. But then suffered a serious injury, which put a premature end to his campaign.
There then followed a strange period when there were conflicting reports about whether Onyekuru had recovered properly and was ready to return to action or not.
All this mattered because due to work permit rules he couldn’t join Everton until he had become an established Nigerian international. So he needed to be fit to play for his country especially with the World Cup looming.
In the end he didn’t feature for Nigeria in that tournament and so couldn’t come to Goodison Park to play for the Blues this season. And so again he eventually joined another club on loan, this time Turkish side Galatasaray.
Onyekuru has again been playing well so far and so is in line for a recall to the Nigeria squad. In another twist his return to the international scene could also be hastened by the recent decision of a former Liverpool player to retire from international football.
Victor Moses is that player. His retirement potentially opens up a place in the Nigeria attack for Onyekuru. If he does win a place in his national side again that would ease work permit problems and allow him to finally join the Blues, two years after he signed!
Having Onyekuru able to join Everton next season might prove a real bonus. Obviously his arrival would add another young attacking talent to the Blues options up front.
But also he is a player who likes to operate on the left of a forward line, which would give Everton a player who could give Richarlison a break or indeed play in that position if the Brazilian was ever played more centrally.
In more news related to the international break, Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has spoken about his early season form and how he is determined not to take too many risks in his keeping.
More from Prince Rupert's Tower
- Everton 0 Arsenal 1: Blues fall to third home defeat
- Further chaos in Everton takeover as other lenders not keen on 777 Partners
- Everton need repeat of Arsenal win to kick-start their season on Sunday
- More madness at Everton as Moshiri now agrees to sell club to 777 Partners
- Everton takeover talk cools after UK govt doubts and further questions
Pickford is cementing his place as England’s number one keeper and he’s likely to start for England this weekend against Spain.
His comments are particularly pointed due to the spectacular mistake of his Merseyside opposite number Liverpool keeper Alisson in their last match at Leicester City.
The trend towards goalkeepers who are just as comfortable playing with the ball at their feet as they are stopping shots between the post, is going to lead to more of these kinds of incidents.
Let’s just hope that Pickford’s comments don’t come back to haunt him in a Merseyside derby match later this season!