Jonjoe Kenny excelled for Schalke on loan last season (Getty Images)
According to The Sun (h/t Daily Mail), Bournemouth have been credited with an interest in out-of-favour Everton right-back Jonjoe Kenny.
As per the report, the Cherries are in talks with Carlo Ancelotti’s side over a potential swap deal involving Joshua King and are keen to bring either Kenny or teenage centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite to the Vitality Stadium as a part of the agreement. It has been claimed that the south coast outfit are willing to cash in on the Norwegian this month rather than lose him for nothing at the end of the season.
King has also been linked with moves to Newcastle United, West Ham and West Brom but Bournemouth are yet to receive a formal offer for his services.
Everton have shown an interest in the 28-year-old in the past but have been put off by the Cherries’ asking price for the forward. However, the Toffees are now hoping to acquire his services by orchestrating a swap deal. (h/t Daily Mail)
A youth exponent of Everton, Kenny made his Premier League debut for the club way back in 2015-16 but has never really been able to establish himself as a regular fixture at Goodison Park.
The former England U-21 international has tallied just 47 appearances across five-and-a-half seasons, spending time on loan at Wigan Athletic, Oxford United and Schalke in the German Bundesliga.
The 23-year-old was expected to challenge for a first-team role under Ancelotti this season after a productive loan spell at Schalke last term. However, Kenny has been limited to just a solitary start in the PL so far despite Seamus Coleman struggling with injuries. The academy graduate as entered the final 18 months of his contract, meaning Everton certainly need to make a decision on his future.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, can certainly do with reinforcements in the right-back department. The Cherries parted ways with veteran full-back duo Simon Francis and Charlie Daniels this past summer following their relegation from the Premier League.
Adam Smith remains a regular fixture down the right but the 29-year-old’s contract is due to expire at the end of the season.
Jonjoe Kenny ticks plenty of boxes to come through the door at Bournemouth as a useful long-term signing. Moreover, a potential swap deal involving King would be really beneficial for all parties involved, given the Norwegian clearly doesn’t have a future at the Vitality Stadium.
Kenny has struggled for regular game time in the Premier League but remains an exciting young right-back with plenty of room for development at 23. He was regarded as one of the brightest emerging full-back talents in the country earlier in his career but his progress has somewhat been thwarted by lack of action at Everton.
Nonetheless, his impressive loan spell at Schalke last season clearly shows that he’s capable of playing at a very high level.
Bournemouth have an excellent track record of nurturing young homegrown talents in English football. The likes of Dominic Solanke, Lewis Cook, David Brooks, Jack Stacey and Lloyd Kelly have progressed by leaps and bounds in recent years.
Jonjoe Kenny, who is an exciting young player in a similar mould, would represent another quality addition to the club’s ranks.