A former Sporting Lisbon ace believes Youssef Chermiti’s potential £17 million move to Everton is a ‘good option’ for the striker with the Premier League giants closing in on a shock deal.
In an era where almost every minute detail of a transfer is analysed and dissected to the point of obsession, it’s rare that we see big-money moves come right out of the blue.
And Youssef Chermiti’s impending switch to Goodison Park is one few saw coming. When Fabrizio Romano broke the news on Monday lunchtime – reporting that Everton had reached a verbal agreement with the Portuguese giants – Chermiti’s Wikipedia page must have been subject to more hits than a punch-drunk opponent sharing the ring with a peak-era Mike Tyson.
Unknown on Sunday, the talk of Goodison just 24 hours later.
Sporting Lisbon striker Youssef Chermiti nearing Everton move
Everton, Record add, will pay £13 million up front for Chermiti. The 6ft 4ins 19-year-old could set the Toffees back £17 million with add-ons and bonuses included.
That is quite the show of faith in a teenage striker who only made his Primeira Liga debut against Benfica in January. And while some will question whether Chermiti is really ready for such a move – having only been playing first team football for a matter of months – former Sporting midfielder Litos argues that regular minutes may actually be easier to come by in Liverpool than in Lisbon.
Especially after Sporting completed the £20 million signing of former Coventry City talisman Viktor Gyokeres.
“(Chermiti) is someone who would grow. But we also see at this point, with the signing of Gyokeres and the existence of Paulinho, that it will be more difficult to have as many opportunities as he would like,” Litos tells Radio Renascenca.
“At this point, for the player himself, I believe (moving to Everton) is a good option.”
Chermiti, who has three goals in 22 league appearances for Sporting, may find himself under pressure to lead the line for Everton should Dominic Calvert-Lewin suffer a repeat of those long-running injury issues.
Litos, however, believes that Chermiti will still find life a little easier away from a Sporting side where academy graduates are usually forced to contend with life under the microscope.
“(English) clubs, when they sign players, (the contracts are) for at least five years,” Litos adds. “They are players who can develop without the tremendous pressure that often exists, unfortunately, in Portuguese football.
“These English clubs give time for these kids to grow.”
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