Fikayo Tomori ‘on course’ for Everton loan after giving Kai Havertz his Chelsea shirt number — reports

After almost going to Everton on loan last summer, young Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori looks set to head north anyway, and join Carlo Ancelotti’s rapidly transforming squad for the season. Everton have signed midfielders Allan, Doucouré, and James Rodriguez in last few days, while hoping to use Tomori to address the need for depth at center back — a need that has become even more pressing after the toe injury to Mason Holgate on Sunday.

According to multiple reports, including from ESPN and The Athletic, the 22-year-old Chelsea Academy graduate is “on course” to complete the deal that he looked very much on course to complete twelve months ago as well, before those plans were scuppered by the sudden departure on David Luiz. This time, it’s a sudden arrival of Thiago Silva that has forced the plans into motion, though Tomori looked on the verge of leaving already as he had fallen out of favor in the second half of last season.

Fortunately, it looks like he’s only leaving on loan, having signed a new long-term contract back in December. Hopefully he can find success with the Toffees just as Kurt Zouma had a couple years ago.

An interesting footnote to this story is that Tomori’s move frees up the No.29 shirt, which is what Kai Havertz wore at Bayer Leverkusen — though apparently Fikayo had already agreed to give up his number before the Everton option opened up. What a guy!