The January transfer window is expected to be a busy one at the Goodison Park as the new manager Sam Allardyce, looks to establish his style on the club, having taken over just over a month ago. While he will look to add some quality players to his side, he will also look to let a couple go, to reduce the wage burden on the club and one such player who has completed a move away from the club is Belgian winger Kevin Mirallas.
The versatile attacker came to Everton back in 2012, after 15 months of attractive and productive football for Greek outfit Olympiacos. However, he is yet to start a league game under Allardyce this season, who has now decided to send him out on loan, back to Athens.
Reports from Sky Sports revealed this week that the 30-year old has completed his move to Olympiacos on loan till the end of the season, with Everton expected to be compensated. He is contracted with the Merseyside outfit till 2020 and will return to the club after the end of the season as his deal with the Greek club does not offer them a chance to sign him permanently at the end of the season.
So does Mirallas have a future at Everton?
The 30-year old had his most productive season in his career at Olympiacos, where he scored 20 goals in one season, before moving to Everton. So moving back to the club where he made a name for himself, will always help him get his confidence back.
Capable of playing on either wing, Mirallas is a skilful player with decent pace and dribbling abilities. He is also a specialist in dead ball delivery while his crossing was productive when Everton were led by Romelu Lukaku, not so long ago.
Strong in hold up play and in the air as well, he is perfect for the English game but has not been able to impress Allardyce at Everton this season. And with the likes of Aaron Lennon, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Nikola Vlasic, Ademola Lookman, Davy Klaassen, and Yannick Bolasie all fighting for places on the wing, it makes loads of sense for the experienced Belgian to look elsewhere for game time, just before the World Cup.
He helped Belgium to the quarter-finals of the previous World Cup and this move to Olympiacos not only will give him a chance to break into the national side but will also give him some confidence, which can help him turn his stint around at the Goodison Park. At 30, he does not have too many years ahead of him and these few months, up ahead, could be very important for his top-flight career.
Do you think he has a future in England?
