Everton have a £25m signing ready to be made as soon as the season ends in Tyrique George.
The Toffees negotiated an option to buy the England U21 international in the summer transfer window when agreeing to take the winger on loan from Chelsea in February.
Crucially, it is not an obligation to buy, like the £17.3m deal which has now seen Merlin Rohl become an Everton player after survival was mathematically secured.
David Moyes has only given Tyrique George 155 minutes of action across eight appearances, making it difficult for the Londoner to impress, and also for Everton to get a proper look at him before deciding what to do about the £25m clause.
Now, a story from The Athletic suggests the 20-year-old is going to have to do something pretty special to remain at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
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Tyrique George of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Credit: Getty Images/James Gill – Danehouse
The “accepted logic” at Everton is that Tyrique George will need to break into the side
Since arriving in February, the Chelsea loanee has only made one Premier League start.
The Athletic now state that Everton feel George will need to break into the side “more regularly” to have any chance of that £25m clause being triggered.
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However, with Moyes a stubborn operator who often names the same side, along with the fact there are only four games remaining, this seems like a tough task for George to carry out.
The Camden-born prospect has exclusively played on the left for Everton when he does get onto the pitch, but Iliman Ndiaye has that role nailed down, so a start in that area seems unlikely in the final four games.
George – who is happy at Everton – can play as a striker, but with Beto now back from his concussion, it also feels unlikely that Moyes will give him the nod in that position.
The Chelsea academy graduate has previously made 12 appearances on the right flank throughout his career, but with only one goal and two assists to show for his efforts in that area, we doubt he will get in ahead of Dwight McNeil in the final four games.
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Premier League table.
Credit: Getty Images/Richard Pelham
So, as things stand, it very much seems like Everton will be sending George back to Chelsea once the season is over – barring a shock breakthrough to end the campaign.
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