Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic has admitted that he snubbed Everton last summer.
Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic looks dejected
Earlier this week, the Liverpool Echo carried quotes from Stoke City attacker Marko Arnautovic claiming that he rejected Everton in order to sign a new contract last summer.
With investment from Farhad Moshiri, Everton splashed the cash last summer, and paid big money to land winger Yannick Bolasie from Crystal Palace – but they attempted to sign another Premier League attacker.
The Daily Mail reported in July 2016 that Everton were in talks over a deal to sign Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic in a £12.5million deal having activated a release clause, only for the Austrian to reject a possible move.
Arnautovic instead chose to extend his contract with Stoke, and he was quoted by the Liverpool Echo earlier this week as saying that Ronald Koeman and Romelu Lukaku both wanted him to join Everton, but he ultimately snubbed the switch.
Crystal Palace’s Andros Townsend in action with Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic
Having hit 11 goals and six assists in the Premier League last season, Arnautovic was an exciting target for the Toffees – but Everton may not be too disappointed to have missed out now.
Arnautovic has seen his numbers for both goals and assists decrease this season to six and four respectively, meaning that barring a stunning final four games of the season, he will have suffered a major drop-off this term.
Stoke City’s Marko Arnautovic looks dejected
£12.5million may have been a decent price, but Arnautovic is now 28, and his statistical regression combined with his age mean that Everton may be counting their blessings that they can invest a younger attacker this time around.
Arnautovic is still a decent Premier League winger, but with Everton harbouring ambitions of a top four finish, they should be aiming a little higher this summer, especially given Kevin Mirallas’ inconsistency over the years.
Would you have liked to see Everton sign Arnautovic?
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