Everton look set to make a substantial loss on their DR Congo winger Yannick Bolasie after it was revealed that his current loan deal with Portuguese side Sporting would not be made permanent. The Primera Division side could exercise an option to but the player for around £3.8m, but it is believed they will not trigger that clause due to his annual salary being around £1.7m after tax. Though they are reportedly interested in taking him on another temporary deal, with the winger’s contract due to expire in 2021, Everton may not be keen.
Bolasie arrived at Goodison Park in the summer of 2016 for £25m but struggled to replicate the impact he had at Crystal Palace on Merseyside. As per WhoScored, the Congolese winger scored twice and provided four assists in 29 appearances for the Toffees. But a ruptured crucial ligament saw Bolasie miss over a year of action, 53 games in total, and he has scarcely featured for Everton since. In an attempt to kick start his career the 30-year-old has been sent to Aston Villa, Anderlecht and Sporting since 2018, but none of the moves have seen him return to his Premier League best.
Having formerly established himself as an integral asset to Crystal Palace, before becoming Everton’s second most expensive arrival of all time, when he made the switch, he appeared to be a relatively astute signing. Even now he is still the sixth-highest transfer fee Everton have shelled out to bring in a player. But since the injury, his career has reverted to its pre-Premier League journeyman status that saw the 30-year-old play in Malta, Plymouth, Barnet and Bristol before returning to London.
With his contract due to expire at the end of next season, there is every possibility that he could leave Goodison Park for free unless the club can find a potential suitor. Even if they can find a club willing to take Bolasie off of Everton’s hands, Sporting have shown that the club will make a substantial loss, considering they are unwilling to pay £3.8m. Overall, the move has proven to be an absolute disaster and a lesson the Toffees should learn from moving forward in the transfer market.
