Is Sevilla midfielder not available for transfer any more?

A stroke of (mis)fortune could lead to highly-coveted midfielder Steven N’Zonzi not being available in the January transfer window after all. Everton and Arsenal have both been linked with the player in the lead-up to the transfer window, but now it appears he might stay at Sevilla after all.

The Daily Star reported yesterday that new manager Vincenzo Montella is looking to mend the relationship with the player which had fractured under previous manager Eduardo Berizzo, who was what somewhat unfortunately relileved if his duties just a week after he returned to the position following a successful operation to treat prostate cancer.

Speaking over the weekend, Montella said the player remains a part of the club and his plans included the Frenchman.

“N’Zonzi is a great player for me, so one of my goals is to talk to him and see what his ambition is.

“For me he is a very important player of Sevilla.”

The club chairman added that the falling out with the player had been for purely technical reasons and he would resume training with the senior squad immediately, with the club sitting in fifth place in the La Liga table.

This represents a blow to the Blues who were hoping to get a deal in place quickly with Sam Allardyce’s former player from his Blackburn Rovers days. Morgan Schneiderlin has been adequate for the Toffees but has not displayed any passing range or attacking vision when on the ball. Everton have already hit the first slump of Allardyce’s short tenure at Goodison, losing for the second time in a row yesterday and making it just one goal scored in the last four games.