With so many issues on and off the pitch at Everton, this is perhaps a concern that has not received the attention it maybe should have.
The Toffees, as if they did not have enough problems plaguing them, have a worrying track record of losing their most exciting youngsters.
Everton did manage to retain the services of Jarrad Branthwaite of course – holding out for £75 million and rebuffing Manchester United’s advances – but Thierry Small, Mohammed-Ali Cho and Isaac Price all departed at a time in which they were still viewed as potential first-teamers.
Of course, every transfer carries a degree of risk and arguably Cho is the only success story of the aforementioned quartet, even if Northern Ireland ace Price has made quite a name for himself over in Belgium with Standard Liege.
Small, who became the youngest player in Everton’s history when making his debut aged 16, is now at Charlton Athletic in England’s third tier.
Only time will tell how things turn out away from Merseyside for Halid Djankpata.
Everton agree to let Halid Djankpata move to Italy
Can he blossom like Cho did at Angers – catching the eye of Europe’s biggest clubs for a brief time before heading to Real Sociedad and struggling with injury – or struggle to make the transition to the senior game like Small?
Everton, at least, sold Djankpata on their terms.
Per Gianluca di Marzio, The Toffees included a sell-on clause in the teenager’s contract when he joined Serie B outfit Spezia in August.
Azzurri Under-19 international Djankpata, meanwhile, felt that a move to Italy was the right thing for his development due to the extra emphasis placed on tactical understanding in the home of ‘Catenaccio’.
“I grew up at Everton, going through the whole youth system,” Djankpata tells the official Spezia website.
“But the time had come to turn the page, face a new challenge and put myself to the test to continue to grow in a different type of football like Italian football, where tactics are certainly much more refined than in England.””
Born in Togo but a representative of the Italian national team at youth level, Djankpata made 17 appearances for Everton in Premier League 2 last seaosn.
A tally of 10 yellow cards tells it’s own story, with the tough-tackling midfielder yet to find the right balance between aggression and recklessness though his raw talent means there is a lot for Spezia to work with.
Former Toffees teenager idolises Paul Pogba
“I am a midfielder who loves to attack the space, look for the assist and why not, even score,” adds Djankpata, who models his game on former Manchester United playmaker Paul Pogba. “(I am) trying to always put my athleticism at the service of the team.
“(Spezia’s) atmosphere is very reminiscent of English stadiums.
“My idol? I have always followed (Paul) Pogba. A strong footballer in many aspects. I try to take inspiration from his plays to improve myself day after day.”
Djankpata made his first appearance in Spezia’s squad during the 2-1 victory over Cesena at the start of September.
Head coach Luca D’Angelo, meanwhile, is keen to play down expectations, insisting that Djankpata was a signing made very much with the long-term in mind.
“In midfield, Djankpata is a purchase thought of with a view to the future,” D’Angelo told Calcio Spezia, feeling that the youngster can either establish himself in the first-team later down the line or earn the club a decent profit.
“(We) hope that he can follow the path of (Rachid) Kouda, (Pietro) Candelari and (Nicolo) Bertola, just to give a few examples.”
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