Everton have avoided being locked into a mandatory purchase clause for Arnaut Danjuma, by agreeing to pay a loan fee for him instead.
That’s according to El Periodico Mediterraneo, who say Everton were ‘not willing to pay’ all of Villarreal’s demands for the footballer so found a workaround instead.
The newspaper explains that Danjuma ‘had practically done’ his move to AC Milan before the Toffees ‘meddled’ late in the process and got the player for themselves.
It now appears that Goodison Park will be Danjuma’s final destination but there was some smart negotiating needed by Everton first.
Villarreal, who no longer want Danjuma, wanted to include a ‘mandatory purchase’ option into the loan deal but Everton weren’t willing to pay what the Spanish side were asking for in that regard.
So, rather than agreeing, they have instead offered to pay €4m plus all of Danjuma’s salary for a year long loan deal.
Those numbers will allow Villarreal to amortise a part of the sum they still owe on Danjuma, who joined in a €23.5m deal two summers ago. They, therefore, are happy and have agreed to that deal.
Danjuma is now set to travel to Merseyside for his medical and to complete the move, although given what happened in January, we’re sure Everton won’t be celebrating too hard just yet.
