The Sunderland boss signed the Croatian striker for Everton.
Steven Pienaar. Victor Anichebe. Joleon Lescott. If there’s one thing David Moyes loves it’s an Everton reunion.
The Sunderland boss was even linked with moves for Toffees pair Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson this week, as the Black Cats’ injury problems worsen by the day.
As if it wasn’t bad enough that Moyes is without most of his key central midfielders, he may also be robbed of Anichebe – Sunderland’s second top scorer this season, behind Jermain Defoe – for the rest of the campaign.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
Just to compound matters further, the Scot has been forced to raise his own funds through the sale of left-back – and one of the team’s standout performers so far – Patrick van Aanholt, to relegation rivals Crystal Palace no less.
On the plus side that should, in theory, give Moyes around £10 million to play with as he looks for midfielders, a robust centre forward and now a left-side full-back.
That said, ten-million-smackers is still relative pittance in today’s game, and potential bargains must still be sought by the Sunderland boss – which brings us to Nikica Jelavic, another player he signed for Everton.
Nikica Jelavic celebrates a goal for Everton
Despite plying his trade in the land where money is seemingly no object, China, Jelavic remains a second-tier footballer with Beijing Renhe, a year after his arrival from West Ham United.
Having scored better than a goal every two matches in that time, it would appear life has gotten rather easy for the six-foot-one-inch Croatian, and the rough-and-tumble of a Premier League relegation battle might just tickle his fancy – especially if it means helping out the bloke who introduced him to the English game initially.
It remains to be seen whether Renhe would be open to selling Jelavic, although they did only pay around £4 million for him, and may be tempted by a similar offer.
If he can replicate the nine goals he scored in his first half-season under Moyes, the 31-year-old might just be worth it for Sunderland.
Would you welcome Jelavic to the Stadium of Light?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
