Everton manager Ronald Koeman has revealed Yannick Bolasie’s knee injury is worse than first thought and their club record signing could now miss all of 2017.
Bolasie, 27, ruptured his cruciate ligament during Everton’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United last weekend and had initially been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
However, further tests carried out have revealed the damage is far worse than expected and the Everton boss has conceded Bolasie, whom they only signed from Crystal Palace in a record deal worth £30m over the summer, may not feature again until 2018.
“It’s a really big injury for the boy,” The Daily Mail quote Koeman as saying. “He has a scan last Monday, and from that scan it became clear it’s the cruciate ligaments. Maybe there is something more in his knee but they need to control it now and do a scan again to see about the state of the injury.
“It’s a big, big disappointment. It’s a big loss for everybody. First for the player, then for his team-mates and the whole club. He’s an important player and it’s a long-term injury. He is important for the team with his pressing and pace.
“He is travelling to London and will get a second opinion about the operation, which would normally be next week. For everybody it is a big disappointment.”
Koeman also confirmed that Everton would almost certainly be looking to strengthen in that position during the January transfer window, with United outcast Memphis Depay among the names that have already been linked with a move to Goodison Park in the New Year.
Bolasie’s loss means the Dutchman now just has Gerard Deulofeu and Aaron Lennon to utilise in that area and neither of those have particularly impressed this season, with Koeman adamant signings must be made in January.
“It’s necessary that we really need to sign somebody in that position,” Koeman continued. “But we are already looking for players to bring in different positions in the team because we think we need to be stronger from January.
“It’s an opportunity for other players who did not play a lot. We know we need competition for places and a big squad. It’s a big month coming up with a lot of games and we need everybody at a good level.”
Whoever replaces Bolasie will have big boots to fill in the attacking third, as no player has created more clear-cut chances than the Congo international, who will now miss the Africa Cup of Nations next year, in the Premier League this season (8).
For more stats on Yannick Bolasie, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
