Muhamed Besic is close to agreeing a loan move from Everton to Middlesbrough, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper claim on their live transfer blog (Tuesday, 12.33pm) that the central midfielder is on the verge of settling terms with the Championship promotion hopefuls.
The Mail report that the Bosnia international, 25, is way down the pecking order at Goodison Park despite the recent injury that will sideline James McCarthy for the remainder of the season.
Besic was last seen in the Premier League in Everton’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea back in August and he has been unable to make Allardyce’s matchday squad in recent months.
The defensive midfielder, who can also play as a centre-back, has been at Everton since 2014 and has made 56 appearances for the club.
Good move for Everton?
Yes. The 25-year-old has hardly set the world alight in his four-year-spell at the club, and is surplus to requirements this season. If the midfielder could kick-start his career in the Championship second half of the season, Everton may be able to sell him for a respectable fee in the summer. Big-spending Middlesbrough are currently chasing promotion as they sit eighth, four points off the play-off positions, so Besic would gain a lot of attention if he helps them reach the holy grail of promotion.
This Is Futbol rating: 9/10
Likely to happen?
Yes. It appears the player has accepted he needs to drop down a division to reignite his flagging career. With terms nearly agreed, this deal should go through in the next 24 hours.
This Is Futbol rating: 8/10