According to Telegraph, Everton are prepared to include Cenk Tosun in a player plus cash deal offer to sign Wilfried Zaha this summer. They are more than ready to get rid of the Turkish international and are also willing to offer up to £60 million additional fees to lure the Crystal Palace attacker to Merseyside. But is it the right move by manager Marco Silva?
Tosun’s struggles at Everton
Tosun initially joined Everton in January last year in a £20 million move from Besiktas. He was coming on the back of an excellent season that saw him score eight goals in 16 matches during the first half of the 2017/18 campaign. He had also scored as many as 20 league goals the season before.
However, the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt academy graduate struggled to settle into life in England. Even though he ended up netting five goals in 14 matches during the remainder of the 2017/18 season, two of them came in the win over Stoke City.
And under Silva, the Turkish international has often been overlooked in favour of youngster Dominic Calvert-Lewin. As a result, Tosun could only muster 1,050 minutes of league football last season, during which he scored only three goals.
What Everton could lose with Tosun and gain with Zaha
Tosun’s potential departure from the Merseyside will massively affect the overall depth in the attacking department. He has a vast experience in top-flight European football, and his presence in the team will offer Silva with an additional option in the final third.
Although he is unlikely to become a first-team regular this upcoming season, Tosun’s attacking work-rate and willingness to work hard for his team often become useful. This is especially true against quality oppositions.
On the flip side, Zaha has been one of the most consistent attackers in the Premier League ever since the player’s return to Crystal Palace. Like Tosun, the ex-Man United prodigy is known for his offensive work-rate. But, he is much more versatile as he can feature anywhere across the frontline.
Besides, the Ivorian can offer pace and fluidity in the Everton attack that already boast the services of Richarlison. These two dynamic wingers will make the Toffees one of the feared attacking teams in the Premier League.
Therefore, it is probably fair to say that the Tosun plus £60 million could turn out to be a good piece of business from Everton’s part. The Turkish ace has clearly struggled to adapt to the fast-paced nature of the Premier League – making him an ideal makeweight in a deal to sign someone like Zaha. But, it remains to be seen whether Palace will accept such terms.
