Jean-Philippe Gbamin faces an uncertain future at Premier League outfit Everton but the midfielder will not be returning to Russia this summer, his agent tells Sport Express.
He might have played just a handful of games since joining The Toffees for £25 million three years ago but a fully fit Gbamin could still have something to offer.
During his Bundesliga heyday at Mainz, the Ivorian international proved himself to be a footballer of real presence and finesse.
He’s a ball-winner and a ball-carrier rolled into one, a fiercely competitive footballer equally effective in and out of possession. Given that Everton do not possess a midfielder capable of both stopping attacks and starting them – with Allan, Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph and Abdoulaye Doucoure more specialists than all-action all-rounders – then do not rule out the prospect of Gbamin making up for lost time under Frank Lampard next term.
If he stays fit, of course. And that’s an ‘if’ the size of the Liver Building.
Will Jean-Philipe Gbamin stay at Everton?
Gbamin, it must be said, did start 11 out of a possible 12 games during an impressive loan spell at CKSA Moscow in the second half of last season. He even claimed the Man of the Match award during a 6-1 thumping of Rubin Kazan, despite seemingly being overshadowed by team-mate Yusuf Yazici’s hat-trick.
At this stage, it remains to be seen whether Gbamin will be handed a fresh start at Goodison Park. What is certain, however, is that the one-time Roma target won’t be on his way back to Moscow this summer.
“Jean-Philippe will not return to Russia,” says his representative, Bernard Collignon. “He has no offers from the RPL.”
Collignon admitted a couple of weeks ago that Jose Mourinho’s Serie A giants Roma ‘contacted’ him in December regarding a potential switch to the Stadio Olimpico for Gbamin. There have been no further talks since the turn of the year however.
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