Villarreal star Arnaut Danjuma opts to join Everton on loan
According to 90min, Villarreal star Arnaut Danjuma has decided to join Premier League side Everton on loan for the remainder of the 2022/23 season.
The Dutch winger is one of Villarreal’s best players and has attracted attention from some of Europe’s biggest teams with his displays over the years. The 25-year-old has the Yellow Submarines’ blessings to depart the club this month and has been allowed to travel to England for negotiations.
There is no shortage of interest from England, with Aston Villa, Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City among others, keen. While he would have welcomed a return to one of his former sides, Bournemouth or PSV Eindhoven, Merseyside appears to be his next port of call.
Frank Lampard’s Everton have been abject this season and find themselves in real danger of being relegated. They have struggled for goals and have the joint second-worst attack in the league. Goals win matches and bringing in some inspiration upfront was a necessity this January.
As things stand, Everton are in the driving seat to land their man and already have a medical booked. Unless there is an issue at the 11th hour, it appears to be a done deal. The Dutchman will initially join on loan, with the Toffees being handed an opportunity to make the arrangement permanent next summer.
A centre-forward with pace to burn, Danjuma is a shrewd acquisition and can be worth his weight in gold at Everton. While the Goodison Park outfit have largely underachieved for decades, the threat of being relegated is at a new low.
What they need is inspiration, and in the 25-year-old Dutchman they have just that. Everton staved off the drop by sheer willpower towards the end of the previous season. Richarlison and Anthony Gordon were the driving forces behind Lampard’s great escape.
The former is now at Tottenham Hotspur, while the latter is a shadow of his former self. The Toffees need heroes, and Danjuma could be the man to rise to the occasion. Securing the 25-year-old is certainly a miracle given that he could have joined far more ambitious projects elsewhere.
However, helping the Toffees stave off danger this season could very well also thrust Danjuma into the spotlight and alert the bigger clubs of his talents. It could prove to be a win-win for both parties come next summer.
