Everton January transfer target Arnaut Danjuma, who snubbed a loan move to the Blues in favour of Spurs at the eleventh hour, is wasting his obvious potential as he keeps the bench warm at preferred club Spurs yet again.
The 26-year-old was an unused substitute at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last night as Antonio Conte’s side crashed out of the Champions League, with Italian giants AC Milan progressing courtesy of a 1-0 aggregate win.
Indeed, the attacker, who is on loan at Spurs from La Liga outfit Villarreal until the end of the season, has struggled since his January move, featuring on just four occasions for the Lilywhites in all competitions, scoring once. At one point in January it looked as if Danjuma’s proposed loan move from Villarreal to Everton was all but done, until the deal was hijacked by Spurs, leaving the Blues red faced.
Though the move now appears to have been Danjuma’s biggest mistake, choosing Spurs who in stark contrast to Everton, have a wealth of options in attack, with Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski and ex-Goodison hero Richarlison all vying for a place in Conte’s XI, meaning the Dutch international is often overlooked.
It is understandable that Danjuma would snub Everton for Spurs, with the London club in a far better position than the Blues, but without minutes on the pitch, the Dutch international is wasting his time in London.
Surely any footballer, but especially one former Spurs and Dutch international Rafael Van der Vaart once called ‘a golden player‘ and compared to Netherlands legend Arjen Robben, would rather play week in, week out, rather than occupy the substitutes bench.
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Danjuma could have stayed ‘golden’ at Everton
Considering Everton’s continued struggles in front of goal, Danjuma would no doubt be in Sean Dyche’s starting XI for each game, had the Toffees managed to get the January deal over the line.
Indeed, Goodison Park is crying out for a hero as the Blues find themselves in a second successive scrap for Premier League survival, having scored the joint-fewest goals so far this season.
Attempts to recruit a goalscorer in January were unsuccessful with failed moves for Duvan Zapata and Danjuma, and as Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains unavailable, Everton are threadbare in attack.
Everton meanwhile rely on the out-of-form Neal Maupay and the inexperienced Ellis Simms upfront, and while Demarai Gray’s performance at the City Ground last week could provide an alternative outlet in attack, Dyche’s options are extremely limited.
Arnaut Danjuma could have filled the Richarilison-shaped hole in Everton’s attack, and if he’d have bagged a few goals that helped secure Premier League football at Goodison Park, he’d have been a hero for the Blues, as opposed to just another bench warmer for Spurs.