Everton wanted to sign Kevin Schade from SC Freiburg during the January transfer window before Brentford agreed a loan deal. His switch includes conditions for a permanent move.
That is according to The Guardian, which reports Everton accepted that they needed to get a striker in the sales. But despite the club’s desires to strengthen under Frank Lampard and later Sean Dyche, no new players arrived at Goodison Park and Anthony Gordon departed.
Director of football Kevin Thelwell considered a host of attacking players who would give a new threat. Just Wolves (12) have scored fewer Premier League goals so far this term than Everton (15). Only Gordon, Demarai Gray (3) and Dwight McNeil (2) have more than a goal.
Yet Everton missed out on an array of targets up to and including deadline day on Tuesday. Thelwell failed to sign the striker that the Toffees chief spent the winter market pushing to get to Goodison. One of whom was Schade, who got his transfer to Brentford on January 4.
Everton were in the race to sign Schade from Freiburg before the 21-year-old accepted the transfer to Brentford. He joined the Bees on an initial loan deal until the end of the season. But the Germany U21 gem’s deal also features conditions to become permanent for £22m.
Brentford beat Everton to secure Schade’s transfer from Freiburg in January
Schade will sign a five-year contract at Brentford if he completes what will be a club-record permanent transfer this summer. While his transfer to the Gtech Community Stadium also ends the Bees’ lengthy pursuit. Thomas Frank’s team had tried to sign the striker last year.
Reports by Sky Germany, via Get German Football News, in August claimed that Brentford bid €20m (£17.5m) for Schade’s transfer. The Bees initially failed with a €15m (£13m) deal in the summer. But they eventually got their man and at the expense of the Toffees’ interest.
Schade interested Brentford and Everton in a January transfer despite scoring just one goal in eight Bundesliga games for Freiburg this season. He also only started one of his matches after an abdominal injury. The problem kept the youngster on the sidelines for six months.
Frank is confident in the player the Bees have brought to the Premier League
The Potsdam-born prospect only scored six and assisted four goals during his 36 first-team games for Freiburg, as well. But Brentford boss Frank is confident in what Schade will offer the Bees after beating interest from Everton to his transfer during the mid-season market.
“I think Kevin is a typical Brentford signing,” Frank told the Bees’ website. “He is a young, promising talent that we see a big potential in. We have been following him for a while and we think he will suit our style of play. He can play anywhere across our front three positions.
“[Schade] could play for us on either wing or as the central striker, he has great pace and is very promising in the way he runs behind defences. He is very good aerially, in both boxes, and can develop even more to be a real threat as an offensive option with his head.
“We like the way he presses when the team do not have the ball. He is willing to work very hard for his team. We see him as a player that could have a big potential to be a fine goal scorer and it is great to have him at Brentford.”
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