Everton have suffered a setback in their January pursuit of a right-back, as Max Aarons will likely now stay at Norwich City until the summer transfer window, according to The Sun.
Aarons is considering his future at Carrow Road amid the Canaries’ troubled return to the Premier League. The Norfolk side sealed promotion as Championship winners last season, but they sit bottom of the table at the halfway point and are also on their second manager.
Norwich fired Daniel Farke in November and instantly replaced their two-time second-tier winning boss with Dean Smith. The former Aston Villa coach started brightly in East Anglia by beating Southampton before two draws. But they have since lost their last five in a row.
Basement boys Norwich now also share the worst defensive record with Newcastle United on 42 goals conceded. They have not kept a clean sheet in six, since drawing with Wolves.
Aarons is now starting to weigh up his future with Norwich, but is unlikely to leave Carrow Road in January. Instead, the Canaries product will likely stay put until at least the summer.
Barcelona, Roma and Borussia Dortmund have previously been among the 21-year-old’s admirers. But he will still have two-years remaining on his £22.5k-week contract in June.
Norwich star Aarons deals Everton right-back transfer blow
Aarons’ likely reluctance to leave Norwich in the January transfer window will come as a blow for Everton. Calciomercato.it earlier this month cited the Toffees, Dortmund, Roma and Tottenham Hotspur among the €22m (£18.5m) full-back’s most recent admirers.
Everton want a right-back as the Blues doubt Seamus Coleman can last another season as their first-choice, per The Athletic. The Toffees have long targeted the Irishman’s long-term successor and will revive their endeavours next month – likely without Aarons, however.
Norwich, meanwhile, will hope Aarons can help turn their form around and avoid another relegation. He has also endured a mixed campaign on a personal level, with some promise in attack and tracking back. But Aarons has not always reached the levels Farke hailed.
“Max is outstanding in many topics,” Farke said in December 2020, via the Pink Un. “I can’t praise him enough for what he has done since his first appearance.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
