Gerard Deulofeu Loan to AC Milan Reportedly Refuted by Everton

Conflicting reports surround Gerard Deulofeu joining AC Milan from Everton on loan for the rest of the season. 

Milan's official Twitter account announced a deal on Friday but later deleted the tweet.

According to Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia), the agreement does not include an option to make the move permanent.

However, Everton later denied The Rossoneri's statement that they had signed the Spaniard, per Sky Sports News HQ.

Since manager Ronald Koeman arrived at Everton in the summer, the winger's stock has plummeted. So far in 2016-17, he has made a meagre four Premier League starts, failing to register a goal or assist in that time.

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Gerard Deulofeu in prestito secco fino al 30/06/2017@gerardeulofeu joins #ACMilan on a loan deal until 30/06/2017#welcomeDeulofeu pic.twitter.com/PbC17PzqC6

— AC Milan (@acmilan) January 20, 2017"

Should the deal be completed, Deulofeu will be looking to salvage a career that looks to be in danger of fizzling out.

During his time with the Barcelona academy, he was viewed as one of the brightest Masia prospects, regularly impressing in various youth teams and the Barcelona B side. During a loan spell with Everton in the 2013-14 season, Deulofeu showed more flashes of his potential.

Lynne Cameron/Getty Images

However, the following season, he joined Sevilla on a temporary basis and was quickly marginalised by then-manager Unai Emery, who questioned his application. 

"Put him out there, one-on-one and...pfff," he told the Guardian's Sid Lowe of Deulofeu. "But make him play football with team-mates, on a big pitch, and it's hard. He doesn't have the maturity or capacity for sacrifice yet."

The following season, the winger moved to Everton on a permanent basis, and while he started the campaign superbly, the inconsistencies in his game started to resurface. With the man who brought him to Goodison Park, Roberto Martinez, sacked after a torrid campaign, Deulofeu quickly found himself out of contention under Koeman.

Milan manager Vincenzo Montella would be tasked with finding a way of harnessing that ability if he were to join the club. Deulofeu is a huge threat when he has space to work with. However, his questionable fitness and lack of physicality are hindrances at this level.

He would not walk into the first team at the San Siro. Deulofeu's compatriot Suso also operates on the right wing and has been in exceptional form this term.

Now 22, Deulofeu is no longer the prospect from La Masia tipped for stardom; if he's to reach the standards so many expected of him during his time in Catalonia, it must start at Milan.