Cenk Tosun has an uncertain future at Everton after falling down the pecking order and has been linked with a return to Turkey. Fenerbahce and Besiktas are among the clubs interested in the 29-year-old, but it doesn’t appear he’ll be on the move this summer due to his serious knee injury.
Move on hold until he recovers
Tosun suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury while on loan at Crystal Palance and is still recovering months later, so he’d be unable to join another side until he’s fully fit. The summer transfer window shuts in October and Tosun has many weeks of rehabilitation needed before he’s close to returning, so it looks like we’ll have to wait until January to sell him.
The Turkish international told A Spor (h/t Turkish Football): “I am injured so I have not held talks with anyone. I won’t be going anywhere before I have recovered. Even if a side were to sign me they wouldn’t play me until the winter break. “It is early for me to return to Turkey. I need to achieve my goals first and for that to happen my priority is to make a recovery.”
The 29-year-old has made 51 appearances in all competitions since joining us from Besiktas, scoring 10 goals with six assists. Tosun’s last outing in an Everton shirt came all the way back in December 2019 and he only amassed 328 minutes of football across the board, so a replacement is needed.
Could Tosun refuse to leave?
Tosun turned down the chance to join Galatasaray last summer and turned down the chance to move to Qatar, citing unfinished business at Everton. He was determined to win his place back in the starting eleven and says Carlo Ancelotti wants him to stay at Goodison Park, so could he refuse to leave?
After paying £20.25m for Tosun in 2018 and agreeing a four-year deal worth £3.12m-a-year/£60k-a-week for a player that hasn’t scored since November 2019, we risk losing out on a lot of money if we can’t cash in while Tosun still has some value.
Providing he returns to full fitness before January, a winter sale might be on the cards. It would suit everybody involved, as opportunities have been few and far between for Tosun at Everton.