Everton
Premier League • England
‘Unhappy’ Everton star could leave this week as Turkish giants plot shock signing after failed contract renewal
Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi is ‘unhappy’ at Goodison Park and is pushing to leave for a Turkish side before their transfer deadline, according to a report.
Iwobi enjoyed a great start to the season, registering one goal and five assists during Everton’s first 12 Premier League matches. This helped the Toffees to pick up victories over West Ham, Southampton and Crystal Palace.
However, Iwobi has not been as effective in the second half of the campaign. He has not scored since the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in October, although he did register an assist during the 1-0 win over Leeds last month.
It is still unclear whether Iwobi is an important part of Sean Dyche’s plans going forward. The former Burnley boss, who replaced Frank Lampard at Everton in late January, has given Iwobi a decent amount of game time so far. However, the manager could make some big alterations to the Everton squad in the summer, and this would put the 26-year-old’s starting spot under threat.
Turkish outlet A Spor have provided a major update on Iwobi’s situation. They claim the player is ‘unhappy’ at Everton and is looking to find a new club as soon as possible.
The ‘best’ solution is a move to Turkey, as their transfer window does not shut until March 5. This means Iwobi could depart Merseyside as early as this week.
Fenerbahce are pushing hard to bring the Nigeria international in at the request of their manager, Jorge Jesus. He wants a new player to bolster his forward options and believes Iwobi is the perfect fit.
Fenerbahce are looking into signing him on loan. But as the player is seemingly desperate to get out of Everton, the deal could include an option or obligation for Fenerbahce to buy him this summer.
Everton in ‘advanced’ discussions over exit, claims report
Talks between Everton and the Turkish Super Lig club are said to be at an ‘advanced stage’. This means the transfer could reach completion any time between now and the Sunday deadline.
What the report fails to mention is why Iwobi is so desperate to get out of Merseyside. One potential reason for this is his failed contract from earlier in the season.
When he was shining last year, several reports claimed Everton were preparing fresh terms for him. His current deal expires in June 2024, so they would have extended this while also handing him a pay increase.
However, Everton have never gotten Iwobi’s new deal over the line. Perhaps this is why he wants to find a new club.
Moving to Fenerbahce could also give Iwobi the chance to play in European competition. They sit second in the Turkish top flight, which means they could make it into the Champions League for next season.
This is definitely a situation to monitor over the next few days. Although, it would be a surprise if Iwobi secured a last-minute exit out of Everton when there have been no other rumblings about him being unhappy.
Meanwhile, Dyche could contradict a Lampard decision by getting Everton to offer one of Iwobi’s team-mates a new deal.