Benitez told to hold Tosun talks at Everton after January transfer reveal – pundit
Alan Hutton has urged Rafael Benitez to hold sit-down talks with Cenk Tosun over a potential exit from Everton in January.
The former Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, admitted the 30-year-old’s future prospects at Goodison Park look bleak.
As quoted by the Athletic on Monday (13 December), Tosun’s agent, Dr Erkut Sogut, confirmed the striker plans to remain at Everton in January.
The Turkey international’s contract expires at the end of the season and there is reportedly interest in his signing next month.
Everton’s spending ability has been hamstrung by financial fair play and profit and sustainability rules, with Benitez admitting he is looking at player sales to free up funds.
Hutton insisted the Spanish manager needs to try get Tosun off the books if he is not part of his plans.
Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I totally, totally understand both sides.
“The manager’s desperate to get people out to get new guys in. He understands Cenk Tosun is not part of the plan moving forward.
“But the club gave that guy a contract and they have to honour it. If he’s willing to stick it out and not play, just pick up his wages, that’s his choice to do.
“But I think that the only way you can really move forward and is to try and be open and honest. Have a sit-down with the manager and player.
“Say: ‘Look, you are not in my plans, you’re not going to be involved. You’re not going to be in matchday squads. All you’re going to do is train.’
“I think if you have an open and honest discussion, maybe that will help to move things along.
“If you don’t have these conversations, you just leave him to think and go in a bad mood. He will get in a huff and go: ‘Well I’ll just sit it out then.’
“I’ve seen a million players do that. If he’s going to treat me like that, I’ll just sit here and make it harder for him. It’s better to be open and honest and have these kinds of conversations.”
Tosun has played just once this season – a six-minute cameo against Liverpool.
He was even left out of the matchday squad against Crystal Palace on Sunday (12 December).
In other news, pundit predicts Benitez facing dressing room backlash after update on “bust up”.