Everton face major stumbling block in pursuit of Youssef En-Nesyri

Everton are looking to add new players to the squad in the 2026 winter transfer window. 

The Toffees have been credited with a loan interest in Fenerbahce star Youssef En-Nesyri. 

But they face a major stumbling block in their pursuit of the 28-year-old. 

Journalist Matteo Moretto says En-Nesyri is currently on big wages at Fenerbahce and any club keen on a transfer will also need to match his salary. 

He said in video on the Fabrizio Romano in Italiano YouTube channel: “I want to highlight an important detail: the reason Fenerbahce is trying to free up space, also financially, by offloading En-Nesyri, is that he signed a contract until 2029, so a fairly long contract, and he earns around 8 million euros net per season – a really significant contract.

“The player will evaluate all the proposals on the table, including Juventus, and will definitely choose the project that convinces him the most technically, because En-Nesyri wants consistent playing time.

“But there’s also the financial aspect to consider, because he earns a lot at Fenerbahce, and anyone who wants him will need to reach an agreement on that.”

En-Nesyri started his career in Morocco and has had spells at Malaga, Leganes and Sevilla. 

He joined Fenerbahce in 2024 and has made 77 appearances across all competitions, scoring 38 goals and creating eight assists in the process. 

The 28-year-old has netted seven goals in 15 Super Lig matches this season, with Fenerbahce just a point below leaders Galatasaray in the table. 

Everton have had an excellent Premier League campaign so far, as they sit 10th in the table with 32 points from 22 matches. 

The Toffees stunned Aston Villa with a 1-0 victory on Sunday, ending the Lions’ impressive record at Villa Park. 

Everton are not expected to be very active in January, but they will act if there is a good opportunity in the market. 

El-Nesyri could be an excellent acquisition, as he is a top striker who is highly rated for his aerial ability, work rate and finishing skills. 

The Merseyside outfit currently have Thierno Barry and Beto as options in attack, but both have struggled to score goals this campaign. 

Barry has recently shown flashes of brilliance, netting three goals in his previous four Premier League games. But his overall scoring record this term has been poor. 

Stats from Transfermarkt