Everton inform Jean-Philippe Gbamin of January transfer decision

Jean-Philippe Gbamin has endured a miserable time at Everton since joining from Mainz for £25m in the summer of 2019

Jean-Philippe Gbamin has been told he can leave Everton this month.

The Blues midfielder is likely to look for a loan move away from Goodison but the club would open to selling him.

Gbamin is attracting interest from clubs in Germany and Italy but a move is not yet thought to be close.

The 26-year-old has endured a miserable time at Everton since joining from Mainz in the summer of 2019.

A succession of serious injuries have limited the £25m signing to only seven appearances for the club, of which only three have been starts, and Gbamin has fallen further down the pecking order since Rafa Benitez's arrival.

Gbamin started the game at Wolverhampton Wanderers in November but was replaced at half-time and the Ivory Coast international has only featured twice since then.

Benitez would be prepared to sell the midfielder this month, to help raise funds for a squad revamp, but it is thought the player may seek a loan move at this stage.

Everton want to bolster their ranks with a midfielder during the January transfer window and are also intent on signing a winger before the January 31 deadline.