Everton striker Cenk Tosun has entered the final six months of his contract. Signed from Besiktas in January 2018, the Turk was brought to cut down the goal deficit that was felt after Romelu Lukaku was sold in summer 2017.
Four years after his arrival, it is safe to say that Tosun has miserably failed to shoulder the responsibilities of being the prime goal source. In fact, the 30 year old has barely managed to keep up as a backup striker. 11 goals in 59 games for Everton can never justify the €22 million plus bonuses Everton paid to Besiktas for the striker’s services.
Tosun has even seen misfortune come his way as long, gruelling injuries have taken him prey and derailed any momentum he was generating. Last January, the striker was on loan at Besiktas and started to impress but that’s when patella rupture forced him out for several months, ending his season prematurely.
Now fully recovered, Tosun still remains deep down in the pecking order. There were reports of Besiktas wanting him and devising a formula to sign him but until now there haven’t been any official approaches from the Turkish outfit.
Everton striker Cenk Tosun only wants Besiktas move
However, Tosun has attracted the attention of other clubs. Championship side Hull City were interested in him but the 30 year old has rejected the approach from Hull. Another foreign side, PSV, from the Eredivisie were interested but Tosun did not look at the offer in an optimistic manner.
As it appears, his heart is set out on a return to Besiktas. According to Fotomac, the Turkish international is waiting for an offer from Besiktas and is open to an emotional return if such an opportunity would arise now.
According to another report from Turkish outlet Sozcu, Initiatives have already begun for Tosun and Besiktas president Ahmet Nur Cebi has previously stated “Our door is always open to Cenk”.
With Tosun’s contract expiring in the summer, there’s little room for Everton to act stubborn and pocket some cash for the striker. If a deal cannot be completed in the last couple of days of the window, Tosun will walk out as a free agent at the end of the season.
The best case scenario for Everton will be to offload the fringe player now and avoid the payment of around £1.7 million which constitute half yearly wages. Expecting a transfer fee at this point seems to be a comical expectation so saving the wages seem an ideal proposition.
With Frank Lampard coming in and with his history of handing youngsters a chance, Tosun will barely make it to the matchday squads. With Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Salomon Rondon and Lewis Dobbin around, Tosun might just be warming the bench if he stays at Goodison.
Will Cenk Tosun leave before the end of the winter transfer window?