New West Bromwich Albion manager Sam Allardyce could be set to reunite with Everton striker Cenk Tosun – a player signed under Allardyce’s tenure at Goodison Park.
The Turkish hitman, signed for £27m from Besiktas in 2018, has yet to start in the league this season.
Seemingly out of favour at Goodison Park, BBC journalist Phil McNulty has since indicated that Tosun may have found a domestic suitor in the Baggies. McNulty implied the club could initially be looking at a loan deal, similar to the spell that Tosun had at Crystal Palace last season before a cruciate ligament injury curtailed the striker’s spell in south London.
Wonder will Sam Allardyce's January shopping take him back to Everton for Cenk Tosun, who he spent the regal sum of £27m on when he was Goodison Park? Suspect nowhere near that given Tosun's lack of success/injury but might take the chance.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) December 17, 2020
Indeed, Tosun showered praise on his former boss Allardyce during his time at Selhurst Park. Writing in a Palace matchday programme at the start of this year, the 29-year-old said:
“Big Sam is a top man. I really liked him. I loved to work for him. He is a very honest guy who always told you to your face and not behind your back and I like that; I respond to that.
“If I played poorly I don’t need an arm round the shoulder, I just want the truth.
“Sam wanted me when he was Palace manager but it didn’t happen due to a couple of small issues so I’m glad I managed to work with him at Everton; he is a great person.”
McNulty’s claims indicated that Allardyce may ‘take the chance’ on Tosun, implying perhaps a loan or a cut-price deal would be the way forward.
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Since his move to Everton, Tosun has failed to justify his price tag, scoring just 10 times in 52 matches.
A loan deal with an option to buy would make the most sense for all parties in terms of taking ‘a chance’ which minimises risk for West Brom whilst giving Tosun a chance to prove himself.
‘Big Sam’ is evidently a fan of the striker with mutual admiration between the two, potentially opening the way for a deal.
