Marcel Brands must not entertain Paris Saint-Germain targeting a second loan spell for Everton striker Moise Kean this summer.
What’s the word?
According to ESPN, PSG Sporting Director Leonardo is expected to target free agents and loan deals during the next off-season with funds likely to be tight at Le Parc des Princes.
The Ligue 1 giants have been hit as hard as any other club by the coronavirus pandemic, and will pursue deals for soon-to-be free-agents such as Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, Olympique Lyonnais striker Memphis Depay and Bayern Munich defender David Alaba.
PSG also hope to strike a deal with Everton to retain Kean beyond his season-long loan, but could be forced to push for a second temporary spell which this time features an option to buy.
Kean moved to the French capital in October in a deal that does not include any purchase clauses, optional or obligatory, and Everton are expected to demand around £70m to part with the former Juventus forward at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
The striker endured a troubled debut year at Goodison Park having only managed to score two goals in 33 games across all competitions, while also being the subject of Marco Silva’s wrath after arriving late for a team meeting.
But he has turned things around in Paris, netting 15 times and providing one assist in 27 appearances, while Mauricio Pochettino has lauded the 20-year-old by noting: “We are very happy with everything he does.”
Should Everton loan Kean to PSG again?
If Leonardo cannot afford to match Everton’s demands for the sale of Kean to Paris Saint-Germain this summer, Brands cannot entertain the Ligue 1 giants request for a second season on loan if the deal will only include an option to purchase in 2022.
Kean – who Silva described as a “clever boy” – is proving in France the threat that he can offer to Carlo Ancelotti back at Goodison Park next season, having hit goals against top and bottom tier opposition including FC Barcelona in the Champions League and OGC Nice in Ligue 1.
If those efforts still have not impressed Ancelotti, who oversaw both of Kean’s two Blues goals last season, then Everton must use his rejuvenated form to sell while the £53,000-per-week forward’s stock is at its highest and make profit on the £25m rising to £27.5m paid to Juventus.
The Toffees will likely need to reinvest any profit made from the Italy internationals’ departure to strengthen Ancelotti’s options in the off-season, with goals from centre-forwards other than top-scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin thin and far between this term.
Joshua King is yet to score in royal blue after four appearances following his deadline day arrival, and needs to impress if the Merseyside club are to take up their option to keep the summer free-agent on a longer-term deal.
Only two of Richarlison’s 10 goals in all competitions this term have come through the centre, as well, with the Brazilian most lethal when fielded on the wing and able to cut inside onto his favoured right-foot.
Cenk Tosun may have scored twice since re-joining Besiktas on loan last month, but only hit home once in seven outings for Everton this term following cruciate ligament surgery and is currently sidelined with a knee injury.
Ancelotti cannot rely on King or Tosun, in particular, providing Calvert-Lewin with competition next term. So, if Kean is not the answer, Everton must sell or guarantee funds for the forward this summer.
AND in other news, Everton are likely to sell a £6.5m-rated dud this summer after pricing him out of a January move…