Why Everton Are Doing The Right Thing By Loaning Out Henry Onyekuru
According to Daily Mail, Everton have beaten Premier League rivals Arsenal to the signing of striker Henry Onyekuru from Belgian club KAS Eupen. The striker has confirmed the move to the Merseysiders with a post on his social media account.
The 20-year old was the joint top scorer in the Belgian Jupiler League last season and had garnered interest from a number of bigwigs. However, it was believed that the Gunners were in pole position to clinch his signature ahead of next season. But, the latest reports coming out claim that it is the Toffees who have captured the bright and talented youngster.
The report also adds that Everton will be loaning Onyekuru out to Belgian club RSC Anderlecht – who will be playing in the UEFA Champions League, for the upcoming season, to aid his development.
Onyekuru, for long, has been regarded as a special talent in the Belgian footballing circles. The 20-year old was the driving force behind Eupen’s promotion to the Jupiler League from the second division at the end of the 2015-16 season. He continued in a similar vein of form in his debut season in the top-flight.
Onyekuru finished the campaign with an impressive tally of 22 goals from 38 games – 10 of which came in the playoffs, despite Eupen finishing in a lowly 13th place. He also added two more strikes from three appearances in the Belgian cup competition and set up 9 goals in all competitions. His impressive form for the club earned him an international call-up from the Nigerian national team. He made his debut for the African nation earlier this month, in a 3-0 win against Togo.
Someone who can play anywhere across the front three, Onyekuru is known for his blistering pace and his ability to run past defenders with the ball at his feet in the blink of an eye. With excellent technical ability and great finishing skills, the Nigerian international has shown great calm and composure in front of goal. He also possesses a creative edge to his game and can create chances in plenty for his attacking partners, making him a well-rounded forward at such a tender age.
Everton have been extremely active in the transfer market, having already made important signings in the form of Jordan Pickford from Sunderland and Davy Klaassen from AFC Ajax. They are also close to confirming the £5.2million signing of striker Sandro Ramirez from Malaga (Sky Sports).
With Romelu Lukaku’s impending exit in the summer, a proven striker was the need of the hour for the Toffees. And apart from Sandro, manager Ronald Koeman is expected to bring in top class star centre-forward to replace the big Belgian.
So, the club is right in deciding to send out Onyekuru on loan as he will get more exposure playing with a club like Anderlecht, than playing a bit part role for the Merseysiders. The fact that the Belgian club will be playing in the UEFA Champions League, the player will be gaining valuable experience on the continental stages too.
The 20-year old will only gain from the loan spell and Everton will have a more polished forward at their hands once he returns. Everton have made a brilliant signing and have got a gem on their hands now. But given his lack of experience, they are right in sending him out for a temporary spell away from England.