Carlo Ancelotti has not ruled out the possibility of Josh King staying with Everton beyond his initial deal with the club after his move to Merseyside on transfer deadline day. The Norway international arrived from Bournemouth late in the window as the Blues moved to secure more options for their forward line. The 29-year-old has signed a short-term contract with the Blues after signing for a nominal fee, as he was into the last six months of his deal with the south coast club. And, when asked about the potential of King to stay beyond the current terms of his deal, Ancelotti confirmed that he would like to see that happen.
Carlo Ancelloti said: “He has time to show his quality. Everyone would be happy to sign a new contract with him. We have these months to look for this. I don’t know how the terms of the contract are really because I was not involved, but really he is a player with quality and a player we like. I think that the dream for every one of us is to stay with us for a long time, for him also. He showed a strong desire to come here, it is really important for us. I hope for him, and for us, he has a long career with us.”
King arrives to provide further options in the forward area of the pitch for Everton, with Cenk Tosun being allowed to leave and return to Besiktas on loan. With Moise Kean already spending the term with Paris Saint-Germain, that left the Blues with few options to cover for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison up front. And the manager doesn’t want there to be added pressure on Everton’s strikers now that King has arrived at Goodison.
Carlo Ancelloti said: “No they don’t need to improve. I think the arrival of Josh King makes our squad more competitive, and of course, it puts more pressure on the strikers.But this was not what we want from him. We want him, as I said, because he can cover all the positions in front and we can have more options in front than we had before. The signing of Josh is not to put more pressure on my strikers. They know, without this arrival, they have to improve. They know.”
