Everton should issue Gabriel deadline
The saga surrounding Gabriel Magalhaes continues to rumble on seemingly endlessly. So is it time for Everton to issue a deadline or walk away?
It seems as though Everton always get caught up in these absurd transfer push-pull type scenarios where no one seems to be sure what is going on, who has bid how much and whether the alleged clubs involved, are really interested.
Last summer we had all this with Wifried Zaha, with stories that the club hadn’t bid for him, or they’d only bid once and not twice as was claimed, while Palace stubbornly refused to lower their absurd valuation until nothing eventually happened.
In the end of course he stayed at Crystal Palace and Everton ended up signing Alex Iwobi from Arsenal instead.
Then we had a long-running will we, won’t we issue with getting Kurt Zouma back at the club after his largely successful loan spell in 2018-19 season.
I feel that we’ve reached the point now where the Blues need to say to Gabriel and his club Lille, this is what we are offering take it or leave by the end of the week.
In previous posts I’ve said that I didn’t think he was coming to Goodison Park, once the supposed deal earlier in the year fell through as the season was suspended.
Then the Toffees finished the campaign following an appalling late-season slump in 12th place and rumours started surfacing that Arsenal and Manchester United wanted him.
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At this point it seemed as though if those reports were true, he would almost certainly pick one of the other clubs, both of whom can offer European football next term.
Now we are seeing yet more rumours that the Blues are still in the hunt and that the player will finally make a decision on his future in the next few weeks!
If Carlo Ancelotti really wants this kid then let’s pay what Lille want, within reason, although £30 million isn’t reasonable now.
But I have repeatedly said that the area of the team that club must prioritise is the midfield, even at the expense of strengthening the defence in this window. So let’s get this done asap and get on with signing the midfielders the Blues need.
Or if Gabriel is stalling or has had his head turned, then it’s time for the Toffees to draw a line in the sand and bring this saga to a close.