Ishak Belfodil: Everton could scrap move for Standard Liege's forward

By Phil McNultyChief football writer
Ishak Belfodil
Belfodil, who wears number 99 on his shirt, has scored nine goals in 21 appearances since joining Standard Liege in the summer

Everton's £10.4m deal for Standard Liege striker Ishak Belfodil has stalled and may now be abandoned.

The move was close to completion at the end of last week and the 24-year-old was awaiting clearance to fly to Merseyside from Standard's warm weather training camp in Spain to complete the formalities and undergo a medical.

Belfodil, however, has been frustrated as reports in Belgium suggested the move has become tangled up in financial complications and is now likely to be scrapped completely.

The striker, who has emerged as a key player for Standard in his short spell at the club, had been earmarked as a potential target by Everton director of football Steve Walsh, who brought his fellow countryman Riyad Mahrez to Leicester City.

Belfodil has had a nomadic career, including spells with Lyon, Bologna, Parma, Inter Milan, Livorno and Baniyas before moving to Belgium.

Everton have already signed Morgan Schneiderlin from Manchester United for £24m in this transfer window, as well as teenager Ademola Lookman from Charlton Athletic, with manager Ronald Koeman wanting to strengthen further.

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