The Spanish press seem to be roundly preparing for Steven N’Zonzi’s Sevilla exit.
At the weekend, Sport Witness covered claims from Seville that a ‘goodbye’ is in the works for N’Zonzi who is becoming persona non grata at the Spanish club.
The midfielder fell out with his manager after he was subbed off against Liverpool, after a poor 45 minutes, and hasn’t been picked since. Out of Sevilla’s match-day squads, a January transfer looks increasingly likely.
Tuesday’s edition of AS reports that Sevilla have a problem with N’Zonzi. He tried to force a transfer in the summer, and things haven’t gone well since.
Everton interest is the only link named by AS today, and they point out Sam Allardyce, who had the midfielder at Blackburn Rovers, would be key in any move. Whilst Sevilla aren’t against a sale to Everton or anywhere else, they want ‘high numbers’ if it’s to happen in January.
That isn’t because they need N’Zonzi, he isn’t even in the squad and it’s been made clear by the Seville media the Frenchman isn’t essential, but rather that they don’t want him to ‘win’.
It’s considered N’Zonzi shouldn’t benefit from his own poor behaviour, and that’s a stance echoed by Marca. Explaining the footballer has been allowed to travel to London, Marca talk up transfer talks with Arsenal and Everton.
N’Zonzi has a €40m clause, and Marca insinuate €30m is probably acceptable, but 
anything less than that gives N’Zonzi his ‘win’.
It’s unclear if Arsenal interest is being talked up only because N’Zonzi has travelled to London and there’s previous links with the club.
There’s a distinct bad feeling towards N’Zonzi in Seville. Being patient with the midfielder after a poor start to his Sevilla career, the Spanish side have been annoyed with his behaviour and the way he’s tried to force an exit, and perhaps even bring his own value down.
N’Zonzi didn’t leave Stoke City under the best of circumstances and perhaps Sevilla are just feeling the wrong end of what they’ve previously benefitted from.
Given the midfielder turns 29 years of age this month, the danger of agitating for a move in future is lessened, with N’Zonzi perhaps looking for a big final Premier League contract.
Perhaps playing at his best when motivated by the dangled carrot of exciting interest, Everton, and Arsenal if their interest is correct, may want to take some of the more negative slants into consideration.
