Everton could be selling Deulofeu.. back to Barcelona?

Could the La Masia graduate be making his way back home?

Gerard Deulofeu first made an impression when he was on loan at Everton, enough that the Toffees signed the player on a permanent deal. Now he appears to be making a similar impression on AC Milan while out there on loan, and it’s his original club that is perking up.

Everton had signed the winger when he was deemed surplus to requirements at Barca, but with current manager Luis Enrique stepping down at the end of this season, it appears the Spaniards would like to load up and give the new manager a selection of weapons.

Barcelona’s sporting director Robert Fernandez said yesterday that he thought the forward could still have a future with the Catalans.

“We have an opportunity to bring him back and this is very good.

“I am very happy with how he is performing. He was at Everton but he wasn’t playing, and now that he has joined Milan he is playing well and has even returned to the national team.

“We are keeping tabs on him. The good news is that we can bring him home, all we need is €12 million.”

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

The terms of Everton’s purchase from the Blaugranes included first refusal for Barca, which means that if the Toffees choose to sell the player, the Catalonians would get the first chance to buy him back before the Blues sold him to the highest bidder.

Things are looking up for Deulofeu with a recall to the Spain national team for the first time in three years after one goal and three assists for Milan. With no room for the player in Steve Walsh and Ronald Koeman’s plans for Everton, it’s looking likely that the Blues will easily recoup their £4.2m transfer fee and then some when they sell the player on.