Everton’s Davy Klaassen rejected a move to Napoli on Wednesday.
Everton managed to bring one new signing on deadline day, landing Eliaquim Mangala from Manchester City, whilst Ademola Lookman headed out on loan to RB Leipzig.
The Toffees had expected midfielder Davy Klaassen to head out on loan too, given that Italian side Napoli were pushing to land the Dutchman until the end of the season.
However, Klaassen ended up snubbing the move in order to fight for his place at Goodison Park, and manager Sam Allardyce was left bemused by the situation.
Speaking after Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Leicester City, Allardyce told The Telegraph that Klaassen should be disappointed, as he is squandering the chance to play first-team football for the rest of the campaign rather than sit on the sidelines with Everton.
In truth, the Dutchman does need to be playing. With no Premier League action at all since the win over Bournemouth in September, Klaassen is well down the Everton pecking order, and whilst he doesn’t have the World Cup to worry about, he should still be looking to play as much as possible.
And yet, Allardyce is at risk of treating Klaassen in the same way as predecessor Ronald Koeman treated Oumar Niasse; completely casting him aside and keeping him out of the Everton side no matter how much he may be needed.
Klaassen was supposed to be a huge addition for Everton following his £23.6million summer move from Ajax (BBC Sport), having hit 55 goals in 181 games for Ajax, and whilst he has failed to live up to expectations, he deserves far more of a chance.
Allardyce cannot afford to cast aside such a big-money signing without even handing him a minute of Premier League action, and whilst his refusal to head out on loan is frustrating, Allardyce must give him an opportunity to shine, and not give him Koeman’s Niasse treatment.
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