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Football

19th Jul 2018

Everton targeting out of favour Chelsea players on loan deals

Both players are on the hunt for first team football

Reuben Pinder

It’ll be one or the other

Everton mean business this summer. Although, they meant business last summer and we all know how that turned out.

This time will likely be different though, as Everton target a higher calibre of player, with newly appointed coach Marco Silva looks to improve their attacking options.

The Toffees have expressed their interest in Bordeaux winger Malcom, and are now hoping to secure Chelsea duo Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Michy Batshuayi on loan, according to The Mirror

Loftus-Cheek spent last season on loan at Crystal Palace, where he hit the ground running before an ankle injury ruled him out for several weeks in the middle of the season. His form after returning from injury was enough to earn him a place in England’s World Cup squad though.

Batshuayi, meanwhile, started last season at Chelsea but struggled for first team football under Antonio Conte, who limited his playing time to substitute appearances and League Cup games. He was subsequently sent on loan to Borussia Dortmund for the second half of the season after the German club sold Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Arsenal.

The Belgian striker bagged an impressive 9 goals in fourteen games in Germany before suffering from a fracture in his leg that threatened to rule him out of the World Cup.

He did make it to the World Cup, although his most impressive contribution came in the form of hitting the ball off the post into his own face.

Everton have struggled to replace the goals provided by Romelu Lukaku since he left them for Manchester United, but with a run of games, Batshuayi could be exactly what is needed at Goodison Park.

Loftus-Cheek may find himself competing for a place in the team with Gylfi Sigurdsson, but the Chelsea midfielder is capable of playing slightly deeper alongside a defensive midfielder too.

Whichever of these two players joins Chelsea, both would likely benefit from the move as they seek more first team football.