Napoli have reached an agreement with Everton to sign Davy Klaassen in the final hours of the January window, according to a reliable journalist.
Sky Sports Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reported on his personal website late on Tuesday night that the Serie A leaders have settled terms with the Merseysiders and have also got the green light from the 24-year-old.
Di Marzio previously reported that Italy’s league leaders are working on a loan with an option to buy in the summer, but he did not state that in his updated dispatch.
It is said that the full terms of the deal are not yet agreed as there are issues with Klaassen’s image rights that have yet to be settled.
The Holland international has flopped since his big-money £24million switch to Goodison Park last summer and made just 13 appearances across all competitions.
Sam Allardyce has confirmed that he would allow the Dutchman to leave this month in order to play regularly elsewhere.
Good move for Everton?
Klaassen can’t get a game for the Merseysiders – he has not made the Premier League matchday squad since October – and Allardyce has made it clear that it is in the best interests of all concerned for a parting of the ways to be agreed. Klaassen has failed to live up to his reputation after starring for Ajax last season with 20 goals and 12 assists in 50 games. A spell in Italy can reignite his career, and it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that he could return to Goodison and be a major force next season.
This Is Fubtol rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
With the thorny issue of image rights to be resolved, this deal is not yet done, and it appears that a loan move by tonight is certainly an easier one to seal than a permanent transfer. However, Everton’s willingness to offload a player not in Allardyce’s thoughts suggest this will eventually get done, although it might be a last-gasp deal.
This Is Futbol rating: 8/10