Report: Troy Deeney told ‘quality’ player to go and sign for Everton this summer
Former Watford and Birmingham City forward Troy Deeney has handed Everton an unexpected transfer assist by advising Arnaut Danjuma to sign for the Toffees.
Deeney played under Everton boss Sean Dyche when he managed Watford during the 2011/12 campaign, with the forward finishing the Hornets’ top scorer with 12 goals in 46 games.
Indeed, the former goalscorer helped his old manager sign the ‘quality’ Danjuma this summer by providing the Dutchman’s camp with a ‘positive testimony’ of the Everton coach.
That is according to The Athletic, who report that Danjuma’s team did their own due diligence on Everton and the club’s coaching staff prior to agreeing terms with the Blues.
Evidently, the 26-year-old was satisfied with what he learnt about the club, as well as Troy Deeney’s Sean Dyche testimony.
Danjuma was originally set to sign at Goodison Park on a loan deal from Villarreal last January, until a last-minute intervention from Spurs.
Indeed, the Dutch international spent the second half of last season on loan at the London club, scoring once in nine Premier League games.
Everton were clearly determined to get their man however, and reignited interest this summer, securing Danjuma’s signature at the second time of asking.
Arnaut Danjuma has a lot to prove at Everton, but his quality can speak volumes
The addition of such an exciting attacker is much needed at Goodison Park, with goals and creativity at a premium throughout last season.
Ellis Simms’ £3.5m departure to Coventry City only exacerbates a desperate need for attacking reinforcements, with Everton limited in both numbers and quality.
Both Neal Maupay and Demarai Gray are linked with summer departures, indicating that Danjuma may not be the club’s only attacking signing this summer.
He may have to win over some Everton fans following January’s snub, but if the Dutchman proves to be a gamechanger for the Toffees, no doubt all will be forgiven.
