‘We’re in talks’: Midfielder ‘like Joshua Kimmich’ rules out Everton move

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Bundesliga midfielder Dennis Geiger has played down speculation linking him with Premier League outfit Everton, telling Kicker that he is ‘in talks’ over a new deal at Hoffenheim. 

With Abdoulaye Doucoure and Tom Davies set to become free-agents in around six months’ time, Everton’s midfield will need some re-jigging in 2023.

According to Sky Germany, Everton were lining up a cut-price deal for Geiger. But if there were any hopes on Gwadlys Street that the one-time Bayern Munich target would be leaving Hoffenheim in the cheap come January, think again. 

Geiger’s contract expires next summer. But the Germany U21 international intends to sign a new deal at the Rhein Neckar Arena; staying loyal to a club who backed him through so many injury-enforced absences. 

Everton set to miss out on Hoffenheim’s Dennis Geiger

“We are in talks (over a new deal),” 24-year-old Geiger explains. “I feel extremely comfortable at Hoffenheim. I don’t need to repeat that every two weeks!

“Everyone who works more closely with me here knows how much I enjoy what I do. And how much fun I have with the team and the staff. 

“In the past, it was always my goal to play for Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund. Or even in the Premier League. But when you suffer so many injury setbacks, I’m mainly just happy that I’ve fought my way back like this. And that I can still play football at this level at all.” 

Geiger, an intelligent, composed passer of the ball who also boasts impressive defensive numbers (WhoScored), has been likened to Germany international and Bundesliga winner Joshua Kimmich due to his effectiveness in and out of possession. 

“He’s a real live-wire on the pitch. With improvement, he can be like (Bayern Munich’s) Joshua Kimmich,” former team-mate Sandro Wagner tells the Bundesliga website.  

With Geiger seemingly moving out of Everton’s reach, the Toffees will be forced to look elsewhere. Torino’s Serbian powerhouse Sasa Lukic is one option, Brazilian wonderkid Andrey Santos another.