Everton-linked striker Martin Braithwaite has been put up for sale by Barcelona.
No surprises there.
The Denmark international has played a grand total of 37 minutes across seven La Liga games so far this season and, as Mundo Deportivo wrote yesterday, Ronald Koeman has lost patience with a man whose tally of goals in Barca colours stands at a measly one.
Furthermore, interim president Carles Tusquets has made it clear the cash-strapped Catalans must sell before they can buy in the January window (AS).
And with Koeman desperate to reunite with his former Holland captain Memphis Depay at Camp Nou, selling Braithwaite for a fee in the region of £18 million would go a long way to making the manager’s dream a reality.
Everton have been linked and Braithwaite, who knows English football from his time at Middlesbrough, would provide Carlo Ancelotti with some much-needed attacking depth (Mundo Deportivo).
The Toffees can’t rely on Dominic Calvert-Lewin alone if they are serious about playing in Europe for the first time since 2016/17.
West Ham were also reported to be in advanced negotiations with Braithwaite in August but, for reasons still unknown, the move broke down (AS).
Either way, if Braithwaite does find a way out of Camp Nou you can bet Denmark national team coach Kasper Hjulmand will be pleased.
With Euro 2021 around the corner, Hjulmand is understandably concerned about lack of game time for one of his star men.
“Right now, (his lack of minutes) is a minor problem,” the former Mainz boss told Bold.
“But if (the situation) continues, it can be a problem in relation to the rhythm you have to have. There are no worries now, but there could be in the long run.”
With Christian Eriksen also slipping down the pecking order at Inter Milan, Braithwaite’s status as Barcelona’s £18 million afterthought could soon become a real issue for Denmark.
The January window can’t come soon enough – for all parties.
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