Exclusive: Everton player transfer collapses after U-turn

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on:

19 Jan 2021, 5:10 am

Everton star Yannick Bolasie's hopes of joining Middlesbrough this month have collapsed, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.

This site broke the news on 10 December that Boro were back in for the winger, after their deadline-day loan move on 16 October fell apart at the eleventh hour.

Talks have taken place over the possibility of a January deal, including a permanent move.

But a recruitment source has told Football Insider that the plug has now been pulled following a Boro U-turn and they have moved on to alternative targets.

Manager Neil Warnock had been keen to work once again with a player he managed at Palace.

It is a blow for Bolasie, who has been frozen out of Carlo Ancelotti's side and has no future at Goodison Park.

He is out of contract in the summer and can sign a pre-contract with an overseas club from this month.

Bolasie has made little impact at Everton since signing from Crystal Palace in 2016 for £25million rising to a potential £30m.

His value has subsequently plummeted following mixed loans at Sporting Lisbon, Anderlecht and Aston Villa over the last two years.

A knee injury wrecked his first two years at Goodison Park and he has struggled to recapture the heights of his Palace peak.

Bolasie spent last season at Portuguese heavyweights Sporting Lisbon and scored two goals and provided five assists from 25 matches.

He has made just 32 Everton appearances, which have yielded two goals and four assists.

In other news, West Brom are tipped to launch Everton raid after meeting reveal.

Everton FC

Middlesbrough