Everton may have to face up to reality of Davy Klaassen sticking around

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Last summer Everton spent £23.6 million on Ajax captain Davy Klaassen. It was expected to be a hit signing, considering the season he had just had in Amsterdam. The attacking midfielder scored 20 goals and assisted 12 in 50 games for Ajax, helping them to the Europa League final.

But he struggled at Everton. Klaassen was not helped by the fact Everton signed Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wayne Rooney in the same window, both extremely similar players.

He also seemed to be off the pace for English football, but never got a prolonged chance to find his feet.

Klaassen played just seven times in the Premier League but also struggled in his eight Europa League appearances.

That has led to a summer where it seemed he was on his way out. Turkish side Besiktas have so far emerged as the only creditable interested.  However, Everton team-mate told Cenk Tosun told Sabah this week that Klaassen had no interest in the deal.

So Everton might just have to accept that Klaassen is sticking around.

“Klaassen is a very good football player and I asked him if he would come to Besiktas.

“But he replied ‘I do not think Turkey.’ The subject was closed from the start.”

– Cenk Tosun on Davy Klaassen’s future

Which might not be a bad thing?

The Dutchman has an abundance of talent but he seemed suffocated at Everton last term. Marco Silva will need to decide whether there is a system in which Klaassen can actually thrive at Goodison Park.

The club will not want to make a big loss on what was a sizeable investment and, given he is still only 25-years-old, there is hope for the future.

If nobody wants him, Everton would be foolish not to use him and see if he can recapture that 2016-17 form that saw Everton splash the cash last summer.