Belfodil: Everton’s mini transfer saga
Ishak Belfodil’s transfer to Everton is already turning into something of a mini saga. So much contradictory stuff has been claimed in the Belgian media that it’s becoming clear the deal isn’t as straightforward as, say, Morgan Schneiderlin’s transfer to Everton.
On January 7th Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reported both Everton and West Brom were keen on the player. Standard Liege were said to value Belfodil at €15m, something the forward found ‘outrageous’ considering they signed him for free in the summer.
Het Nieuwsblad said Standard ‘privately realise they can’t refuse an offer of around €10m for him.’
On January 10th, Standard’s director of sport Olivier Renard, appeared to rule out a move.
Responding to reports both Ronald Koeman and Tony Pulis were interested, Renard said: “There’s a lot of interest, but he isn’t looking to force an exit. In fact, there’s a 100% chance of him staying… since he’s already here. We want to keep our best players for as long as possible, but if Manchester United come knocking…”
January 11th brought a big change and DH reported an accepted €12m Everton offer, with the club offering Belfodil a four and a half year deal.
It was explained the player could leave Standard’s training on Thursday, travel for a medical, and be announced an Everton player.
Also on January 11th came an intriguing claim from Belgium’s RTL that Everton were paying only €4m with Belfodil ‘taking a percentage in order to never reveal the true amount of the transfer’.
The following day Orlando Sa, Belfodil’s teammate, told fans taking photographs with the player at training: “Enjoy it, these are the last ones you will be able to take with him.”
On Friday the 13th DH reported that the reason a transfer hadn’t been concluded was: ‘intermediaries trying to involve themselves in the Everton deal when they shouldn’t.’
There was still confidence a deal can be done soon.
Today, Saturday January 14th, Belgium’s HLN claim it’s actually Everton holding the deal up, not entirely sure they want the player. However, Belfodil’s agent is said to still be confident that a transfer will happen.
It’s pointed out the player’s agent has now been at Standard’s Marbella training camp for four days, trying to get the deal over the line.
