|
Tottenham's Steven Pienaar closes in on a permanent return to Everton
• South Africa midfielder set to sign for Merseysiders this week
• He misses Spurs' pre-season tour to United States
David Hytner
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 28 July 2012 20.08 BST
Tottenham's Steven Pienaar is set to complete a permanent return to Everton this week.
Steven Pienaar will complete a permanent return to Everton from Tottenham Hotspur this week, subject to a medical.
The South Africa midfielder, who went back to Goodison Park on loan for the second half of last season, endured a frustrating time at Tottenham, whom he joined from Everton for £3m in January 2011.
He was sold the merits of a move to Tottenham by Harry Redknapp, the club's then manager, who envisaged him providing competition in wide midfield areas. Redknapp considered the signing of the 30-year-old, who stood to leave Everton as a free agent last summer, as a bargain.
Yet Redknapp gave him only five Premier League starts, and the player struggled to find his rhythm. Pienaar's only goal for Tottenham came in the Europa League against Shamrock Rovers. The speed with which he rediscovered his form during his loan back at Everton was startling.
Pienaar did not travel to the United States last weekend for Tottenham's pre-season tour to confirm the impression that his time at the club was over. André Villas-Boas, the new manager, had described the negotiations with Everton as "ongoing" and they have now reached their conclusion.
|