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Everton: Toffees ‘explored’ Michy Batshuayi move
The Athletic reporter David Ornstein says that Everton ‘explored’ a deadline day move for Fenerbahce striker Michy Batshuayi.
The Lowdown: Deadline chaos
Transfer Deadline Day descended into chaos at Goodison Park, as Everton were rebuffed in late attempts to sign the likes of Reading’s Lucas Joao and Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta.
In the end, the Merseyside club signed nobody, ending the month as the only team in the Premier League not to bring in a single new face, and will now have to look at the free agent market if they want to strengthen their squad for the second part of the season.
The Latest: Batshuayi ‘explored’
Taking to Twitter just hours before the deadline, Ornstein revealed that Everton ‘explored’ the possibility of signing Batshuayi, but he did not want to leave Fenerbahce:
“Everton explored #DeadlineDay move for Michy Batshuayi from Fenerbahce – but 28yo Belgium striker happy at Turkish club having found stability & good coach in Jorge Jesus. He would only have switched for a stable project.”
Should Everton have signed Michy Batshuayi?
Yes
No
The Verdict: What could have been
Batshuayi would have been a smart signing for Sean Dyche’s side, given his previous Premier League experience and the fact that he has been on great form so far this season, notching up 15 goals in total in 22 games in all competitions.
Once hailed as a ‘top class‘ player by former Toffees manager Frank Lampard when they were together at Chelsea, the six-foot-one striker also has a habit of scoring big goals in big games, notably the winner in Chelsea’s 1-0 win away at West Brom back in 2017 to give them the Premier League title, and more recently the winner for Belgium in a hard-fought victory against Canada at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Nonetheless, the Blues would have banked on him to deliver in the latter stages of the campaign, as they look to fight off relegation for the second season in a row.
