Player Everton let go in January now has 11 goal involvements in just 12 games

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Everton decided to let Niels Nkounkou leave Goodison Park for a second loan spell back in January after deciding they had no need for the Frenchman.

The Toffees allowed the defender to join Saint-Etienne on loan for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign after recalling him from his loan spell at Cardiff, where he made 18 Championship appearances in the first half of the season.

That has proven to be a interesting decision by Everton – to say the least.

What’s the story?

Well, Nkounkou has been in sensational form since moving to Saint-Etienne.

The 22-year-old has scored four goals and provided seven assists across just 12 appearances in Ligue 2 since January.

Laurent Batlles has decided to use Nkounkou as a left wing-back rather than just a standard left-back, and it seems as if the Pontoise-born defender is loving life back in France.

Nkounkou’s most recent appearance came on Monday as Saint-Etienne recorded a 2-0 win over Grenoble Foot 38, and the Everton loanee actually opened the scoring with a thunderous effort.

You can see his strike below.

By the looks of it, Everton have a gem on their hands – but maybe not for much longer.

Everton could lose Nkounkou

When Everton signed Nkounkou from Marseille for free back in 2020, it seemed as if they had big plans for him.

Marcel Brands – Director of Football at the time – spoke glowingly about the youngster, with Everton’s official website quoting the Dutchman as saying: “Niels is a young, talented player with good technical and physical skills. We have been following him for months”

Unfortunately, Nkounkou has only made seven appearances for Everton since his arrival, with the Toffees even spending £17m on another left-back in Vitaliy Mykolenko to add more competition to that department.

Now, they could lose him for good.

Get French Football News claim that Saint-Etienne have an option to buy Nkounkou once his loan spell ends, which they will surely trigger if he continues to play like he is.

Therefore, Everton may now lose the Frenchman just as he starts to show signs of fulfilling his vast potential.