Everton head into the January transfer window with four of their players on expiring contracts. Fabian Delph, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jonjoe Kenny and Cenk Tosun will be free agents in the summer and so far the Merseysiders have only tried to tie Branthwaite to a new deal. Even though Delph has resurrected himself in the last few games, there is little hope over his extension.
For Kenny, he has hardly featured in the last two seasons after returning from a fruitful loan spell at Schalke 04. Kenny has made just 11 appearances over the course of two seasons and has not been able to win the trust of Rafa Benitez. Benitez now and Carlo Ancelotti previously preferred Mason Holgate or Ben Godfrey as a makeshift right back over Kenny. Kenny’s story with the Toffees seems to be coming to an end.
Tosun’s trajectory is headed in a similar direction. After injury ridden spell in England and unsuccessful loan outings, the Turk is staring at an exit from Goodison Park. He made his first Everton appearance after almost 11 months. The 30 year old is seemingly down the pecking order, behind Salomon Rondon in the list of backup strikers.
For months, he has been linked to an exit in January with a potential return to his homeland in sights. The January transfer window is Everton’s last opportunity to cash in on him and other players on expiring contracts. While there have not been any takers for Delph or Kenny, Tosun does have admirers in Turkey.
Besiktas want Everton striker Cenk Tosun on a discounted price
According to Turkish media outlet Takvim, Besiktas are chasing the signatures of Tosun in January. As per the report, a meeting was held between Everton and the Turkish club to discuss a potential transfer in January. The Toffees have put a price tag of €3 million for the Turkish striker who arrived at Goodison for €30 million in January 2018.
However, Kara Kartallar have regarded the asking price as too high and want to negotiate and demand a discount. In an answer to the €3 million asking price, Besiktas came with a counter offer of €1.3 million and are in hope of capitalizing as they remain the only admirers for Tosun.
The Black and Whites want a discount of 50% and hope to close the deal in the region of €1.5 million. Now, the ball is in Everton’s court whether they are willing to accept the discounted fee. Perhaps, the universal rule applies that something is better than nothing.
Tosun doesn’t have many suitors and Besiktas have been in the chase for long. If the Toffees remain stubborn on their asking price, they may end up losing him for free in the summer and in fact paying his half yearly wages. His half yearly wages amount to approximately €1.8 million pounds so keeping him until the end of the season will be poor business from a financial point of view.
In a sporting sense, the Turk will hardly have game time once Dominic Calvert-Lewin returns. Perhaps, it is also time for Rafa Benitez to start trusting the youth and giving Ellis Simms and Lewis Dobbin some game time ahead of Tosun.
Should Cenk Tosun be sold in the winter transfer window?