Exciting Ligue 1 winger set to choose between Everton and Southampton in £22m deadline day deal | OneFootball

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Football365

·31 January 2023

Exciting Ligue 1 winger set to choose between Everton and Southampton in £22m deadline day deal

Article image:Exciting Ligue 1 winger set to choose between Everton and Southampton in £22m deadline day deal

Everton and Southampton have both reportedly had £22m bids accepted for Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana, with the player set to decide his next club today.

New Toffees manager Sean Dyche is under pressure to make several deadline-day additions as he looks to stave off the threat of relegation, with him also working hard to sign a new centre-forward.


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Sulemana’s decision could have a big impact on Everton and the Saints, as he arguably possesses the quality to turn their form around in the second half of the season.

This is according to the Daily Mail’s Simon Jones, who claims that with both clubs having bids accepted for the 20-year-old, it is now up to the player to choose which of the Premier League rivals he joins.

Dyche has a little extra cash at his disposal after the £40m sale of Anthony Gordon to Newcastle, so he is currently pushing to sign more than one deadline day target.

Everton currently sit joint-bottom of the league table after winning just three of their 20 opening matches this season, which is now officially the worst start in their history. As a result, there is a huge demand for quality reinforcements.

Former Blues boss Frank Lampard had already registered an interest in Sulemana prior to his departure, giving them a slight head start in negotiations. However, Southampton are doing everything they can to scupper the deal.

The 20-year-old Ghanaian international, typically known as Kamaldeen, has already had a fascinating career.

His career began with the ‘Right to Dream’ academy in Ghana, before joining their affiliate club FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark.

He netted 10 times in the Danish top flight as an 18-year-old, which attracted the interest of several clubs across Europe.

Sulemana eventually joined Rennes for £17.7m in 2021, making him the most expensive player to be sold from Denmark ever.

The youngster showed flashes of brilliance in his inaugural campaign in France, scoring four goals in 20 league appearances for Rennes, as well as a memorable assist in a victory over Paris Saint Germain.

However, a back injury ruled him out of the final months of the Ligue 1 season, and Sulemana now finds himself behind Amine Gouiri in the pecking order, hence why Rennes are willing to let him leave.

Another name being linked to Everton is former Swansea City and West Ham striker Andre Ayew. The 33-year-old would represent a cheap option for Everton, as he is currently out of contract after leaving Qatari club Al Sadd.

While he does not necessarily represent the sexiest option, the Toffees cannot be too picky as the transfer window draws to a close.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has once again struggled with injuries, while summer signing Neal Maupay has scored just one goal all season.

As for their wingers, Demarai Gray has shown flashes of good form, but Dwight McNeil has been poor overall, while Alex Iwobi has generally played as a centre midfielder.

What’s most important for them is that they get at least one striker and a winger through the door by 11pm and while there are still other names in the mix, it could be the two Ghana internationals: Sulemana and Ayew.

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