Everton agree release clause for midfielder

Everton have met the release clause for Galatasaray midfielder Wesley Sneijder, according to reports in Turkey.

It’s claimed Everton are willing to pay in the region of £5.8m to bring the Netherlands midfielder to Goodison Park.

New Everton manager Ronald Koeman worked with Sneijder during the playmaker’s early career in Ajax, so a resumption of that relationship may be key to sealing the deal.

Galatasaray are keen to offload Sneijder this summer to lower their wage bill and reduce their losses. The Istanbul-based club are currently serving a two-year ban from European competition for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations.

Sneijder has made nearly 150 appearances for Galatasaray since joining from Inter Milan in the summer of 2012 and had been linked with a move to the Premier League for a while.

At 32 there is no doubt his best years are behind him, but his experience and undoubted talent could prove invaluable for the club’s younger players, not least Ross Barkley.

It is the kind of big-name statement signing that may persuade other players to join the Everton revolution.

Plus at £5.8m it would not be a signifiant outlay, even though Sneijder would command hefty wages. Take it as an exotic upgrade on Leon Osman.