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Opinion: Winger unlikely to join Everton first-team next season

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Henry Onyekuru has an uncertain future at Everton this summer. The 21-year-old has spent the last two years away from Goodison Park as he’s been unable to attain a work permit and may not join Everton’s first-team next season as a result.

As per Paul Joyce of The Times, Marco Silva said: “I didn’t decide (if Onyekuru will stay) yet. At this moment we have 4 wingers in our squad – Richarlison, Lookman, Bernard and Theo – 4 with right foot and he is one more with a right foot. We would have to think about a work permit, also.”

After being signed from KAS Eupen in 2017, Onyekuru was quickly loaned to RSC Anderlecht until the end of the season. The Nigerian international scored 10 goals in 28 games for the Belgian outfit. He joined Galatasaray on another season-long loan deal the following summer, scoring and creating 22 goals in 43 games.

Onyekuru’s previous lack of appearances for his national team was why he wasn’t granted a work permit, but that could change this summer after the Africa Cup of Nations. The winger has featured nine times for his country, seven of which appearances have come in the last eight months.

Onyekuru is now a regular for Nigeria and could star in a major international tournament which would strengthen his work permit application. Even if Everton are successful, there’s no guarantee he’d get much playing time in 2019/20 given the competition for places. Silva’s comments suggest he might be loaned out regardless.

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Sports journalist who is an avid football fan, enjoys debunking transfer rumours, loves to write pieces about players out in the cold and takes a large amount of pride getting a predicted XI 100% correct.