Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze is close to joining Everton on loan, according to Spanish publication, Mundo Deportivo.
Chukwueze’s loan move comes with a €45m mandated permanent transfer option at the end of the season.
“Villarreal is about to close the departure of Samu Chukwueze to Everton in England,” the website wrote.
“The 23-year-old Nigerian striker would join Liverpool’s ‘blue’ team on loan, although with a mandatory purchase option for €45m.
“The departure of Chukwueze from Ceramics would be one of the unexpected news of the final stretch of the winter market since Everton’s interest did not reach the ears of the ‘grogueta’ entity until this Tuesday. From that moment on, the negotiations that led to an agreement in principle were intensified, pending the last fringes so that it becomes a reality.”
Should the deal go according to plan, Chukwueze will share the same dressing room with compatriot, Alex Iwobi, who joined the Toffees from Arsenal in 2019.
He will also become the eighth Super Eagles player in the English Premier League for the 2022/23 season joining Nottingham Forest duo Taiwo Awoniyi AND Dennis Emmanuel, Brentford’s Frank Onyeka, and Joe Aribo, who recently joined Southampton.
Leicester City duo Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi are the other Nigerians in the Premier League this season.
Chukwueze has spent the entirety of his European career at Villarreal after coming through the ranks at the club.
