According to reports from Foot Mercato, Everton are eyeing up a move for FC Ural Yekaterinburg midfielder, Petrus Boumal. The 24-year-old is pegged to be Idrissa Gueye’s replacement who is rumoured to be nearing a probable club exit following the 2017/18 campaign.
Boumal’s performances for the Russian outfit has raised some eyebrows this season with both Everton and Villareal looking into the holding midfielder’s game. His 14 appearances this season has helped solidify Ural’s midfield against local rivals like CSKA Moscow, Zenit St Petersburg and Lokomotiv Moscow.
Boumal has played his entire career in the less illustrious leagues of European football and has been capped only 2 times for the Cameroon U20 team. Acquiring him would obviously come cheap to a money stacked side like Everton who have invested heavily in the last 2 transfer windows.
While Boumal might be a highly rated prospect right now, the Toffees faithful might not too keen on replacing Gueye. The Senegalese player has been one of the best players in what has been a poor season for Everton. Their 10th place spot on the Premier League table will give you an understanding of the disappointment the fans at Goodison Park has had to endure over the course of the campaign.
While Ronald Koeman has completely struck out from the very start, Allardyce has struggled to restore the side’s European-spot-contention pedigree. Gueye has been one of the bright lights in a dimly lit Toffees squad and has commanded the midfield out of uncomfortable situations quite a few times.
It has not been too long since he signed the contract extension, which would run until the summer of 2022. Interests from the elite sides are warranted but selling him would be a foolish move.
However, offloading Gueye’s backup option, Mo Besic might not be the worst of ideas. The latter is currently serving a loan spell with EFL Championship side, Middlesbrough and has finally come into his own following the recurring injuries he has endured ever since his arrival to Goodison.
Besic’s career in an Everton shirt has been one to forget, which unfortunately has to be attributed to his fitness issues. Both he and an unused Davvy Klaassen can be sold off in the following transfer window to make way for Petrus Boumal.
With Tom Davies developing into a prime midfielder and Gueye still in the squad, Boumal will be the perfect addition in terms of squad depth while competing for a European spot next season.
