A report has claimed that Everton striker Youssef Chermiti is close to joining Stoke City on loan
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Everton striker Youssef Chermiti is not on the verge of a loan move. It had been reported that the 21-year-old was heading for a stint in the Championship.
A report by Sport Witness, citing Africa Foot, claimed Chermiti is ‘very close’ to joining Stoke City on a season-long loan deal. The article stated that a source close to the player has told Africa Foot that Potters manager Mark Robins, who has a very good relationship with Everton, is very interested in securing the striker’s signature.
The piece added that Robins likes Chermiti’s profile and that he has made him a main target for Stoke, who are trying to finalise the transfer as quickly as possible as they face competition from Preston North End, Sheffield United and Oxford United.
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However, both senior Everton insiders and well-connected Stoke followers have been left baffled by such suggestions.
When contacted by the ECHO, a high-ranking Blues staff member insisted there was nothing in the claims as things stand.
Chermiti joined Everton from Sporting CP (after three goals in 22 matches) for a fee of €12.5million, which could rise to €15million with add-ons, on August 11, 2023, with the Portuguese side also owed 12.5% of any profit received from a future transfer.
However, the Azores-born player has failed to find the net in 24 senior games in English football to date and suffered with injuries throughout the 2024/25 season.
It’s understood that Blues boss David Moyes believes Chermit could benefit from a loan spell out as he continues to get to grips with the game in this country.
However, as things stand, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s contract due to expire at the end of this month, Chermiti could be left as the only alternative striker to Beto in the Everton first team squad until any new recruits are potentially brought in.