Everton journalist Patrick Boyland reckons that the Blues will be open to letting Cenk Tosun leave in January. 

The lowdown

The Turkey international was an unused substitute in the Toffees' 1-0 defeat away to Brentford on Sunday.

It had looked like a potential starting opportunity for the striker, with Richarlison suspended and Dominic Calvert-Lewin out injured, but Rafael Benitez favoured Salomon Rondon instead.

Tosun missed the first nine matches of the season with a patella rupture, but he has been in Benitez's last four matchday squads (via Transfermarkt). However the £2.7m-rated 30-year-old is into the final year of his £60,000-per-week contract.

The latest

Boyland told supporters on The Athletic's matchday discussion boards on Sunday that Tosun could be made available for transfer in the mid-season window.

In reply to an Everton fan bemoaning the striker, the journalist replied: "Leaning on the fact that Rondon has played more minutes, I think. Tosun is likely to be available come January - just a case of needs must in terms of padding out squad until main strikers back"

The verdict

It's absolutely no surprise that Tosun could be on his way out of Goodison Park. He has failed to live up to his £27m price tag, contributing just 11 goals in 58 appearances.

The Turkish frontman, who spent the first half of 2021 on loan at Besiktas, is clearly well down the pecking order under Benitez too, given his lack of involvement even with a sparsity of centre-forward options and Rondon enduring a terrible run of form.

While they may not recoup much in terms of a transfer fee, Everton will be hopeful of clearing Tosun's lofty wages off their books, especially with the club hamstrung by Financial Fair Play regulations.

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