Reports by Sabah earlier this week claimed that Super Lig giants Fenerbahce are exploring a move to sign Joshua King at the end of the season, and Carlo Ancelotti should allow the striker to leave Everton so long as Moise Kean returns from his Paris Saint-Germain loan spell.
King is set to become a free agent this summer having only joined the Toffees on a short-term deal upon his £2m arrival on Deadline Day last month, although the transfer included a clause that allows the Blues to extend the Norway international’s contract longer-term.
Ancelotti reportedly intends to activate the agreement as the Italian and his staff have been impressed by what the £10m-rated forward has delivered in training, while King has expressed that his intentions are to remain at Goodison Park beyond the current campaign.
But Fenerbahce are now thought to be monitoring developments as the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium natives work on strengthening Erol Bulut’s squad, and they have already spoken with King’s representatives over a move to Istanbul.
It was not suggested how King responded to the Yellow Canaries’ approach, but the report included a photo that the forward uploaded to social media last summer of his son wearing a Fenerbache jersey – suggesting there is a connection to be built on.
King had been linked with a move to join Fenerbahce from AFC Bournemouth during the previous off-season, too, which is noted to have excited the club’s fanbase.
The 29-year-old is also represented by the ROGON agency, who sealed Attila Szalai’s move to the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in January.
ROGON may now look to orchestrate a move for their client to leave Everton for the Super Lig, having seen King only play 117 minutes of Premier League football under Ancelotti over eight appearances from a possible nine, of which each has come from the bench.
King registered his longest appearance in royal blue to date at 34 minutes during last month’s 2-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Fulham but he is yet to score or assist a single goal.
Ancelotti can overlook Everton’s option to extend King’s contract beyond the expiration of his current £45,000-per-week deal and allow the forward to join Fenerbahce in the summer, despite the speculation of an extension being in the works, so long as Kean returns.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano stated on the Here We Go podcast last month that Ancelotti is a “big fan” of Kean and is planning on unleashing the forward at Goodison Park next term, unless Everton receive offers worth around €60-70m (£51.5-60m).
But Paris Saint-Germain are keen to retain the Italian beyond his loan spell, with reports by il Bianco Nero at the start of the month claiming that the Ligue 1 giants will strive to reach a deal ‘at all costs’.
Ancelotti would be better set by holding firm in his apparent desires to bring Kean back than his aspirations of handing King a new contract, as the former has struck 15 goals and provided one assist in all competitions for PSG this season while the latter has failed to impress.
King has earned the lowest average WhoScored match rating by a current Everton player in the Premier League this season at 6.06 out of 10, and is yet to offer a single shot or key pass in any of his appearances to date.
Meanwhile, Kean has earned an average 7.02 out of 10 rating in Ligue 1 fixtures, while providing first Thomas Tuchel and now Mauricio Pochettino 2.1 shots and 0.3 key passes a game.
If the decision is between Kean and King, Ancelotti’s choice is simple. If he wants to have a top competitor for Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Merseyside next season, it has to be Kean.
AND in other news, Carlo Ancelotti is eager for Everton to sign a £32.5m-rated titan who top clubs would sign “without thinking twice”…