- Everton are reluctant to pay the full £22m option-to-buy for Tyrique George.
- The clause expires on 30 June, leaving little time to get a deal done.
- Rival Premier League clubs are ready to move if Everton walk away.
Everton are in danger of losing Tyrique George this summer, with rival clubs ready to step in as the Toffees try to negotiate a cheaper deal than the £22m option-to-buy written into his loan agreement.
Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke reports that several Premier League sides are lining up offers for the 20-year-old Chelsea winger should Everton fail to get something agreed before the clause expires on 30 June.
George joined in February to cover for the injured Jack Grealish, but David Moyes gave him limited opportunities – one start across 11 appearances, with no goals or assists to show for it.
Chelsea aren’t in a rush to help Everton out
With Xabi Alonso now in charge at Stamford Bridge, George has no future at Chelsea, and the club want a permanent sale. That actually puts Everton in a weaker position. If the Toffees push for a discount, Chelsea can simply point to other interested parties and hold firm – or use those offers to block a cut-price deal.
For a full breakdown of whether George is actually worth the money, read our Tyrique George transfer analysis.
Time is running out
Despite the quiet loan spell, Moyes spoke positively about George’s attitude – and the young winger did show moments of quality, including a lively cameo in the final-day defeat at Spurs.
But there’s a harder question here around the budget. With multiple positions still needing strengthening, spending £22m on a winger who barely played in the second half of the season is a big call.
If Everton can’t get the fee down and walk away, they won’t just miss out on George – they’ll have spent four months building a player up for someone else to sign.
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