CSKA Moscow’s signing of Everton’s Premier League forgotten man Jean-Philippe Gbamin has not been well received with one former player criticising a ‘stupid’ deal in conversation with Sport Express.
Three years ago, Gbamin was one of the most exciting young midfielders in the Bundesliga.
Someone capable not only of breaking up attacks but starting them too, snatching back possession before embarking upon one of those trademark marauding runs through the centre of the park.
But it’s been a long time since we’ve seen Gbamin do that.
A relentless series of injuries have restricted the £25 million Ivory Coast international to just eight Premier League appearances since joining Everton from Mainz in the summer of 2019.
And Vladimir Ponomarev, a former CSKA defender, is wondering why owner Yevgeni Giner would take such a risk on a player severely lacking in match sharpness.
“Giner used to be involved in signing players. Was he removed? It can’t be that he did such a stupid thing!” says a clearly baffled Ponomarev.
“The man played eight games in two years. It was not even worth taking such a player for free! (CSKA) have recruited second-rate players. It will not lead to anything good.”
Does Gbamin still have a future at Everton?
Gbamin arrives on loan until the end of the season. CSKA will not have an option to buy the 26-year-old in the summer, however.
“I saw clips of the midfielder’s game,” adds Mikhail Grushevsky, an influential fan of one of Russia’s biggest clubs. “I noticed that he reads to the play very sharply, is strong in tackle, owns a pass.
“But he has played time in recent seasons at Everton. So this is a risky option. But the club does not buy him.
“It is a loan, in which CSKA pays a salary for a short period until the end of the championship. He can benefit CSKA.”
Grushevsky points out that the last time CSKA signed a player who had floundered at Goodison Park, it didn’t work out too badly.
After three seasons, 33 goals and a Russian Player of the Year award, Nikola Vlasic was sold to West Ham for a massive profit.
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