Everton exit decision nailed on for Youssef Chermiti, replacement already found

The 20-year-old looked set to feature in Sean Dyche’s plans this season but underwent an operation on a foot injury sustained in pre-season and will face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Kevin Thelwell left it until deadline day to provide the Blues with extra attacking depth by signing Chelsea forward Armando Broja on a season-long loan deal.

Now, with Liverpool Echo journalist Chris Beesly speculating Chermiti could leave on loan in January [The Royal Blue Mersey YouTube channel], it seems the Portuguese forward faces an uphill battle to regain his place in the side.

Youssef Chermiti will find opportunities hard to come by at Everton

After a string of impressive performances throughout pre-season, a spell on the Goodison Park treatment table is the last thing Chermiti needed heading into the new season.

The forward made 18 Premier League appearances last term and, despite failing to score in those outings, was named a “one to watch” for the 2024/25 campaign [The Athletic].

Everton have scored only twice in their opening three league fixtures, with one goal coming from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has started all league matches for Dyche.

There is certainly an opportunity for one of the strikers to make a name for themselves at the Blues and become the established forward in the lineup. However, with Beto and Broja also challenging to displace Calvert-Lewin, it’s hard to find where Chermiti will find game time.

Calvert-Lewin and Beto were the subjects of intense speculation throughout the summer [Calcio Mercato], and there is no guarantee that they will remain at Goodison Park past the winter transfer window [Carlton Palmer] if the Blues’ struggles in the Premier League continue to the New Year.

However, it seems for the time being that Broja will become the final senior choice striker to challenge for a place in the side, and perhaps a loan spell with guaranteed first-team football is the only sensible route for Chermiti to take with an eye on competing for a place at Goodison Park next season.