Rumours linking Everton with a move for Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri just will not go away this month. Understandably so, given his lack of Premier League minutes under Mikel Arteta.
The England Under-21 international hasn’t even kicked a top-flight ball since the North London derby thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur in November.
Ethan Nwaneri has also been omitted from the Arsenal squad for each of their last three Premier League encounters. If Mikel Arteta cannot find a spot in his roster for one of the most naturally talented youngsters in English football, though, David Moyes and Everton may be happy to take him off their former skipper’s hands.
For a few months, at least.
Who would Ethan Nwaneri start ahead of in a fully fit Everton XI? 🤔
The Everton faithful would certainly welcome Nwaneri with open arms.
The Toffees have scored only three goals in their last five league matches during Iliman Ndiaye’s Africa Cup of Nations-enforced absence. Nwaneri, like Senegal schemer Ndiaye, is at his most effective when drifting in from the right-hand side; piercing defensive lines, skipping through tight spots, and taking pot-shots from the edge of the area.
Mikel Arteta says Ethan Nwaneri has a part to play for Arsenal amid Everton interest
Reporter Ben Jacobs claimed earlier this week that Everton have joined Sunderland in presenting themselves as a solution to Nwaneri’s lack of game time.
From an Arsenal perspective, though, Football London claims that the Premier League challengers would prefer to keep Nwaneri on ice. There is a feeling that the teenager could still have a very big part to play during the run-in.
The comments Arteta made when asked about Nwaneri during his press conference on Friday certainly back up Football London’s assessment of the situation.
Arteta did not confirm if Nwaneri would be back in the squad for Saturday’s late kick-off against Nottingham Forest. The coach did, though, indicate that his time would come.
“[The fringe players] all have the option to play,” Arteta said when asked about Nwaneri. “We have to see for each game which ones.”
Arteta, who made 174 league appearances for Everton between 2005 and 2011, puts the academy graduate’s recent absences down to the ‘limitations’ imposed upon top-flight clubs.
Nwaneri, who has made only six substitute appearances this term, has found himself stuck behind summer signings Ebere Eze and Noni Madueke, not to mention Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.
“We have certain limitations – especially in the league – with the numbers that we can bring in the squad, unfortunately,” Arteta argues.
“But, yeah, everybody is in contention.”
Ben White deal seems unlikely as David Moyes waits for Iliman Ndiaye return
What changes do you want to see on Sunday? 🤔
Moyes will be limited to what he can change with this current squad
Everton have also been linked with a move for versatile defender Ben White. This feels rather ‘pipe-dreamy’ at present, though.
White scored one and assisted another during Arsenal’s 3-2 Carabao Cup victory over Chelsea in midweek. If Arteta is unwilling to let his third or fourth-choice attacking midfielder go, he is surely not going to green-light a deal for an experienced defender who provides valuable cover at both centre-half and right-back.
Everton will be without Iliman Ndiaye again during Sunday’s clash with Aston Villa. The former Sheffield United ace is still on AFCON duty. His Senegal side face Morocco in the tournament’s final this weekend.
Moyes rules out the prospect of selling Ndiaye in the near future, too, instead counting down the hours until he arrives back on British soil.
“Absolutely no truth in that,” Moyes said in response to claims that Everton have rejected a recent offer for their most mercurial talent. “If there is [an offer], then I don’t know anything about it, that’s for sure.
“We’ve got no intention of letting Ili go. None whatsoever. By the way, I’m sure there’s a price for every player on the planet if you look around.
“If you’re asking me, we’ve got no intention of selling Ili.”
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