Everton are set to confirm the signing of Tyrique George – and an interesting claim has emerged about the option to buy.
It has turned out to be a quiet window for the Toffees on the incomings front.
Everton News columnist Alan Myers Q&A session on TalkingPoints.
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Fans had clamoured for new additions, hoping The Friedkin Group would look at the club’s position in the table and act.
But the owners have taken a relatively conservative approach, and George looks to be the only incoming.
On Sunday, Everton agreed a loan for George with an option to buy – but so far, there hasn’t been any information regarding the fee.
And that’s because seemingly, it hasn’t yet been determined.
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Selling McNeil for £20m would fund George's option to buy 🔥
A side-by-side image of Everton midfielder Dwight McNeil and Chelsea's Tyrique George.
Credit: Getty Images/Vince Mignott/DeFodi Images/Alex Livesey.
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Tyrique George’s appearances for Everton will dictate the option to buy
It has now potentially become clear why no one has provided a figure for Everton’s option to buy.
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And it’s because, according to Kieran McGill of the Daily Mail, the buy option is set to be determined by how many appearances George makes for Everton.
Speaking in a live Q&A video on the Daily Mail News YouTube channel, the journalist said: “Everton are winning that one. They agreed a loan deal with an option to buy.
Tyrique George playing for Chelsea.
Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images
“I think from what I heard, Everton were a bit non-committal for a while. Chelsea had heard of their interest for a few weeks. Then the Grealish injury changed things. They need a left winger. The good thing about George is he’s versatile. He can play either wing. Maresca used him as a false nine quite a lot.
“With the option to buy, I haven’t had an exact figure for it, but I’ve heard it’s flexible. So basically it’ll go higher if he features strongly at Everton. In the summer, Chelsea agreed a £22 million fee with Fulham to sell him there, but that fell through.
“I’d be surprised if the fee that they’ve agreed with Everton now would be crazy far away from that. I think it’ll be around that. But it is variable.”
A potentially savvy play from Everton
So Everton’s option to buy clause could be determined by George’s level of involvement, and that is an interesting and unusual move.
There are still no specifics yet, and it may be that we don’t hear about them until later in the season.
But the main thing is that George will be signing and hopefully he’ll quickly hit the ground running at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Tyrique George playing for Chelsea U21s.
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Given how Dwight McNeil and Tyler Dibling have struggled, it may be that he gets a fair amount of involvement quite quickly.
And of course, it’s not out of the question yet that McNeil could even leave as a result of George’s move.
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