Everton have included terms which will see Sheffield United pay a financial penalty if Kieran Dowell does not play while on loan with the Blades, according to journalist Alan Nixon.
The reporter revealed the significant details of the 21-year-old’s move to the Championship side, which was confirmed on Friday and will officially go through on January 1st, on his personal Twitter account, saying that the Blades must be planning on using him due to the punishments in place if he does not pick up game time.
Dowell had only made two appearances for the Toffees’ first team this season, both of which came in the League Cup, and returns to the Championship after having spent time on loan with Nottingham Forest.
Opinion
Everton are not messing around when it comes to the development of their players, with the financial deterrent likely to see the Blades play Dowell even if he might be on a poor run of form. The player did really need a loan move away from Goodison Park after struggling to make any impact in the first team this season and this move to the Championship should do him the world of good. However, it makes you wonder how many other loan moves have fallen through due to the monetary demands placed on the heads of other youngsters, and whether the Toffees are being a little greedy in demanding cash if they do not play while out on loan. Of course, they will say they are only trying to protect the development of their starlets but the fact is their players should have to experience the battle of trying to earn a first team place without having a punishment hanging over the heads of the loaning side.