On-loan Crystal Palace striker Cenk Tosun could be set to miss the remainder of the Premier League season and possibly the 2020 European Championships after sustaining an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament. If he is out for the rest of the Premier League campaign that will likely lead to the Turkish international being sent back to Goodison Park, which could spell the end of his career in the Premier League.
With the signing of Moise Kean over the summer, Everton made it abundantly clear than Tosun was not in their immediate plans, and his January loan to Crystal Palace only served to confirm that. Kean’s debut campaign in England has not yet gone to plan. However, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been in sensational form this season, hitting a career-high 13 Premier League goals, over double his previous best in an Everton shirt and more than the rest of his career combined, 11, as per WhoScored.
Both of those scenarios spelt trouble for Tosun, and he was offered a lifeline in the form of a loan move to Selhurst Park, but he has been unable to replicate his international form, scoring once in five appearances for the Eagles, as per WhoScored.
Should he miss this summer’s Euros, it will be a substantial blow for both Turkey, who qualified for their first national tournament since the last edition of the European Championships in 2016 and the 28-year-old striker will be unable to use the competition as a shop window for a potential move elsewhere. In qualifying for the tournament Tosun was Turkey’s primary goal threat, netting five in as many starts for his international side and his loss would be a major blow to their tournament hopes.
If the knee injury is as bad as initially feared, then there is a strong possibility Tosun’s Premier League career could be on its last legs. Since arriving in the division the striker has found the back of the net ten times in 49 appearances, but he does not appear to have done enough to impress those at Everton making just two starts this term. Having previously dominated in Turkey there may be a host of potential suitors approaching the player for his signature, but there is little evidence to suggest his future lies in the Premier League.
