Journalist Fabrizio Romano has now said that Amadou Onana could still be an Everton player at the end of the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old has been heavily linked with a move elsewhere this summer, though Romano states that Everton are not resigned to losing the Belgian.
Indeed, speaking about Onana on the Here We Go podcast, Romano states that Everton could keep hold of the midfielder as he ‘loves the club’.
Romano said: “I think Everton have a chance to keep the player, it’s not going to be easy, but they have a chance because he really loves the club.
“He loves the atmosphere, the city, his teammates. So, he has a special connection with the club.”
Everton could build around raw talent Onana
Everton will be looking to rebuild their squad under Sean Dyche this summer, but exactly how much money the Toffees have to spend remains to be seen.
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Indeed, the club may well have to sell to buy, meaning a player such as Amadou Onana could be sold to fund incoming transfers.
The Belgian only arrived at Everton last summer in a £33m deal from French side Lille and performed well throughout a challenging campaign, attracting interest from other clubs.
However, no doubt the Everton manager will have plans to build his midfield around the 21-year-old, his pace and power ideal attributes for a Sean Dyche side.
Onana does seem to have developed a good relationship with the clubs fanbase this past 12 months, and it would be extremely disappointing to see such a prodigious talent leave after one year at Goodison.
However, the Belgian lacked consistency and some of his displays underwhelmed, so there is certainly room for improvement, but whether or not he will still be an Everton player next season remains to be seen.