---
title: "Everton: Ball discusses potential January loan departure for Nkounkou"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-fc-niels-nkounkou-transfer-rumours-news-now-efc-latest/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Fintan O'Reilly"
section: "Everton"
published: "2020-12-15T18:40:29Z"
modified: "2020-12-15T18:40:29Z"
---

# Everton: Ball discusses potential January loan departure for Nkounkou

**Former Everton left-back [Michael Ball has been discussing](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-latest-transfer-news-kenny-19455360) the future of 20-year-old Toffees left-back Niels Nkounkou.**

The Frenchman was signed by the Merseyside club [from Ligue 1 side Marseille during the summer transfer window for £243k](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/niels-nkounkou/transfers/spieler/591193) but it may be fair to say he’s failed to make much of an impact for Carlo Ancelotti’s side so far this term.

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### **Struggling for game time**

[Per Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-everton/kadernachposition/verein/29), Nkounkou is one of two natural left-backs within the Toffees’ first-team squad, however, despite Everton’s other natural left-back, Nkounkou’s compatriot Lucas Digne, being [unavailable](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lucas-digne/leistungsdaten/spieler/126664) for the Toffees’ last three Premier League games after sustaining an [ankle ligament injury](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11671/12143169/lucas-digne-everton-left-back-to-undergo-surgery-after-suffering-ankle-ligament-injury), the 20-year-old Frenchman has made just [one top-flight appearance](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/niels-nkounkou/leistungsdaten/spieler/591193) this season and has failed to make the matchday squad for [9 of Everton’s 12 Premier League games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/niels-nkounkou/leistungsdaten/spieler/591193) this term – including the last three which Digne has been absent for.

Ancelotti was [slated by fans](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-fc-news/everton-fans-slam-niels-nkounkou-omission-versus-burnley/) for exiling the youngster despite the injury troubles in defence.

### **What has Ball said about Nkounkou’s Everton future?**

[Earlier this month](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/niels-nkounkou-should-angry-everton-19374196), Ball shared he was surprised by Nkounkou’s absence from the Toffees’ squad after Digne’s injury and suggested that the [£2.7m-rated](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/niels-nkounkou/marktwertverlauf/spieler/591193) man has to look at himself to find the reasons for his absence from the squad.

Now, in his latest column for [The Liverpool Echo](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-latest-transfer-news-kenny-19455360), the ex-Toffees player has discussed the possibility of the summer signing leaving Goodison Park on loan when the transfer window re-opens next month, saying that he’d understand if the “obsolete” player, whose current situation he’s described as “disappointing,” was being looked at by the club for a potential loan departure, but stressing that he believes this would only happen if the Toffees bring in a different left-back first, indicating that he still thinks Nkounkou’s presence in the squad is valuable.

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Given that he’s enjoyed so little game time for Ancelotti’s side this season despite Everton’s issues at left-back, it may be understandable if the Toffees do look to send Nkounkou on loan and as he’s not been featuring for the first-team squad despite seemingly being the club’s only fit senior left-back.

Perhaps a loan move would be the best outcome regardless of whether or not Everton can bring a different left-back into the club, if the Frenchman isn’t going to be played anyway.

**In other news, [some Everton fans have been fuming over a report linking their club with a January move for Dele Alli](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-fc-news/everton-fans-fume-as-january-loan-link-to-dele-alli-emerges/).**