Everton in last minute rush to sign Samuel Chukwueze in loan before transfer window shuts

SUPER Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze is all set to join English Premier League giants Everton on loan for the rest of the season as the club and his current Spanish employers Villarreal thrash out a last minute deal.

At 11pm tonight, the summer transfer window will close and several clubs are involved in last minute deals to secure players they need. Everton, who are sitting in 17th place in the 20-team table after five games, desperately need a cutting edge upfront as they have only managed to score four goals.

Chukwueze is seen as an ideal signing for the Toffees and according to Spanish football magazine Mundo Deportivo, a deal has almost been finalised. Villarreal have, however, insisted that the loan move comes with a €45m mandated permanent transfer option at the end of the season.

This transfer never looked like happening until Tuesday when Everton stepped up negotiations and agreed a deal in principle with the winger. Had the deal not been agreed, the alternative for Everton was believed to be Celta Vigo's Spaniard Denis Suarez but he would cost a whopping  €80m.

Suarez may however move to Villarreal to replace Chukwueze who had been linked in the past with Everton’s Premier League local rivals, Liverpool. Should the deal get finalised today,  Chukwueze will join up with compatriot Alex Iwobi on Merseyside.

He will also swell the ranks of Super Eagles stars in the Premier League where apart from Iwobi, the likes of Taiwo Awoniyi, Frank Onyeka, Joe Aribo, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Emmanuel Dennis are all plying their trade. Chukwueze has spent the entirety of his European career at Villarreal after coming through the club's youth  ranks.

Back in 2017, Chukwueze was a star alongside Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Nwakali at the  U-17 World Cup won by Nigeria in Chile. He has won the Europa Cup with Villarreal in 2021, where his dashing runs have led to him being compared with Dutch winger Arjen Robben.