When Anwar El Ghazi was first linked with a move to Goodison Park all the way back in October 2015, via The Mirror, Everton were fighting back from a Danny Ings opener to seal a hard-fought draw against Liverpool, ensuring that they would stay three places clear of their Merseyside neighbours in the Premier League table.
At the time, a 20-year-old El Ghazi was viewed by manager Roberto Martinez as an exciting addition to a talented squad.
Flash forward to January 2022 however and the Morocco international could be finally set to arrive on Stanley Park – albeit under very different circumstances and with a very different role in mind.
Everton could only dream of going toe-to-toe with Liverpool these days.
The Toffees were on the verge of the European places when Romelu Lukaku snatched a point from under Jurgen Klopp’s nose in 2015.
Now, they are 15th, enduring their worst start to a league season 2005/06. In fact, if it wasn’t for the hapless trio of Burnley, Norwich and Newcastle, the relegation zone would be a whole lot closer.
Everton are safe from the drop only because of the enduring hopelessness of their top-flight rivals.
Can Anwar El Ghazi shine at Everton?
According to The Athletic, the £15 million-rated El Ghazi will become Rafa Benitez’s third January signing. He is following in the foosteps of full-back duo Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko.
A deal is yet to be agreed with Aston Villa, however. Everton prefer a short-term loan over a permanent transfer.
El Ghazi’s arrival, it seems, is not linked to a move that see Lucas Digne move in the other direction.
Now, signing a player who cannot even force his way into Aston Villa’s starting XI is unlikely to dispel the dark clouds hanging over Gwadlys Street.
But those questioning El Ghazi’s impending arrival should remember that similar doubts were raised about Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend last summer.
Six months on, Gray and Townsend are establishing themselves as two of the most inspired signings of the entire Farhad Moshiri era.
Seven years after he was first linked, the hope will be that El Ghazi can leave his doubters looking similarly silly.
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