Everton have been dragged into the Tahith Chong situation.
The Manchester United youngster is reportedly very close to agreeing a deal with Inter Milan for next season. His Old Trafford contract expires in the summer and the Italian media have been insistent the 20 year old won’t be signing a new one.
Chong’s transfer rumour has seen claims of him asking for frankly ridiculous wages from Inter, and his agent asking for an equally unlikely huge commission. At one stage it was claimed Inter would send the player out on loan to Jiangsu Suning, who are owned by the same group.
The player wasn’t up for that, and it’s since been stated a loan move in Italy would be likelier. A few days ago it was explained he’d have to go out on loan because not only would he not get near Antonio Conte’s starting eleven, but he also doesn’t fit the manager’s system.
On Saturday, FC Inter News report Everton and RB Leipzig have both made approaches for the player ‘in the past few days’. However, they’ve been rejected, with Chong preferring a five year deal awaiting him at Inter.
That deal would be on much less than he’d originally wanted, with Inter prepared to pay €1.5m (likely after tax) plus bonuses for his first year, with the amount gradually increasing.
It’s also stated Juventus and Barcelona have lost out, which seems a stretch, especially giving media close to the Turin club previously dismissed them having any interest at all.
Given all of that, there’s a possibility Everton and RB Leipzig are being used for hype purposes, and perhaps to pressure Inter into hurrying up.
FC Inter News say that once the Coronavirus crisis is over, the move to Inter can proceed to ‘formal matters’, which sounds like signing a pre-contract agreement.
