By George Overhill
Malik Mothersille has “said his goodbyes” to Chelsea but the teenager is “unlikely” to sign for Everton after his trial, according to Joe Thomas.
The Liverpool Echo journalist reported via Twitter on deadline day (1 September) that the youngster was leaving the London side but is not expected to join the Toffees permanently despite having been in the under-21s squad three times already this season.
The Athletic on 14 August that the “highly-rated” 19-year-old had signed trial forms on Merseyside “in view of signing him on a permanent basis” but it looks like that hasn’t come off.
Malik Mothersille has said his goodbyes to Chelsea but understand the teenage striker’s future is unlikely to be at Everton, where he had been on trial. The 19-year-old was part of the U21s’ squad for the first three PL2 games of the season. https://t.co/RGbz7bpnbV
The initial report had noted “optimism an agreement between Everton and Chelsea will be formalised soon” but he did have other offers.
Missed out
As he is out of contract at Chelsea a potential move shouldn’t be under the time pressure of the transfer deadline at 11pm Friday.
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So there is perhaps still scope for a late change of direction, although it would cost the club a compensation payment to the London club if a deal was now reached.
But if he has other offers then there was always the risk that he might be more interested in another destination.
However, since the signals were positive as he arrived on trial with an expectation was that he was going to join Everton on a permanent basis it has to be a disappointing outcome for him to leave again.
Transfer business at all levels of the club looks like it is a strain at the moment, after a summer which saw the club miss out on numerous striker targets once again before finally getting a deal over the line for Beto.
Young strikers have left this summer, with Ellis Simms gone to Coventry City and Tom Cannon on his way out to Leicester as well, but it looks like one for the future isn’t coming the other way.
In other Everton news, Alan Myers has issued a final deadline day update on a summer-long pursuit after a late bid was made.