 |
| Gerard Deulofeu could leave Everton this summer |
ROBERTO MARTINEZ has revealed the fine detail of Gerard Deulofeu’s move to Everton and admitted Barcelona can resign him for just £6.3million at the end of the season.
Everton are powerless to prevent the Catalan club activating a clause in Deulofeu’s contract and would have to be content with a £2.1m profit on their £4.2m purchase of the Spaniard.
Deulofeu, 21, has elevated his performances in recent weeks by either scoring or assisting seven goals in his last five matches for Everton.
He also scored five goals in two games for Spain U21s, for whom he is captain, during the international break.
 |
| Deulofeu has been in great form for Everton this season |
There was criticism at Barcelona that Deulofeu was allowed to leave in the first place, although Martinez revealed the extent to which the Nou Camp club have protected themselves should the youngster’s form be maintained.
“The buy-back clause is 9m (Euros) for the first year and 12m in the second year,” said the Everton manager, who had Deulofeu on loan for the season in 2013-14.
“There is nothing we can do if they activate it. There are certain things in the deal. They can’t take him back in the winter so they can’t take him back in January.
“It can only be at the end of the season. If they take him back they can’t sell him for a season, so he has to stay in the first team squad for a season.
“At the end of that if they decide to sell him, we have got first rights of getting him back or we have got a big percentage of that (fee).”
It is situation that threatens continuity at Everton at a time when John Stones, Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley are also coveted by rival clubs.
Interestingly, Barcelona have been monitoring the form of England defender Stones.
Yet Martinez defended the terms of Deulofeu’s transfer and said: “For us to have him, a quality player, for the money that we paid, if we lose him it will be for a profit financially so we would be able to use the money.
“That was the deal and the only way we could access the player. I’m delighted with the deal.
“You’re talking about a Barcelona player who has been all through his years as the golden boy believing he is going to be at the top level at Barcelona and we got him for a very good price.”
Everton face Aston Villa on Saturday with Deulofeu looking to build on his partnership with Lukaku for whom he provided assists against West Ham and Sunderland in the last two games with exquisite, piercing 30-yard passes.
“He has gone to a different level,” said Martinez. “If I showed you the stats against West Ham you wouldn’t believe them. He had more high intensity off the ball than on it. That is the first time ever since he has been in professional football.
“Him and Rom speak about that. He says to him: ‘I will look for you.’ It is exactly the same ball as in the Sunderland game.”
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus