On Saturday, it was revealed that talks between OGC Nice and Everton for the transfer of Morgan Schneiderlin had ‘intensified’.
The defensive midfielder, who has previously played for Southampton and Manchester United in England, is coming to the end of his cycle at Goodison Park after joining in 2018, and with just one year left on his deal, now is the time for the Toffees to cash in.
A fee of €2m to which would be attached ‘significant bonuses’ was being discussed, and now the French club’s president, Jean-Pierre Rivière, has all but confirmed talks are underway.
When invited to speak to France Bleu about about the upcoming transfer window for his club, the 62-year-old was asked about the avenue leading to the Everton midfielder, he said: “It’s conceivable, yes”.
While coy on all other transfer matters, Rivière did seem to hint a bit more when it came to Schneiderlin.
After all, it is a good deal for the French club, who don’t have to spend a huge amount on a player with a good reputation, even if his time with the Toffees hasn’t quite reached the heights of his previous spells in England.
If he can find his form again, then Nice probably won’t mind paying those bonuses if they end up having to.