Once again scoring for AC Milan at the weekend in their 4-0 thumping of Palermo, Gerard Deulofeu is continuing his renaissance in Serie A.
Rarely used by Ronald Koeman at Everton this season, the Spanish talent was sent on loan to the Italian side in order to get some game time.
While many expected him to get back on his feet, few will have predicted the impact the 23-year-old has had, earning himself a return to the Spain squad.
AC Milan, who don’t have an option to buy in his loan deal, are keen to make the deal permanent, and with the Toffees unlikely to want to sell their reemerging star for cheap in the summer, the Italian side appear to be trying to find a way around this.
Quoted by Sport on Tuesday, the Serie A side’s director of football, Andrea Galliani, admitted he had been in touch with Barcelona recently regarding the forward, but refused to reveal what had been discussed.
Considering Everton are the ones who currently own Deulofeu, the fact discussions between the La Liga champions and AC Milan are taking place is very interesting.
Barcelona still have a €12m buy-back clause in the Spaniard’s deal with the Toffees, and Sport explain they are seriously considering triggering it in the summer.
Milan seem to be looking for a way around Everton’s own clauses, which state Barcelona can’t sell the player for a year if they buy him back.
With Deulofeu’s contract at Goodison Park running out in 2018, and the player unlikely to renew with the Premier League side unless he is guaranteed game time, this summer could very well be Deulofeu’s last on Merseyside.
