‘Everton well placed to sign player I hear is high up their list’
Everton will face stiff competition in pursuit of right-back Zakaria El Ouahdi from Belgian club Genk.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who reveals the 24-year-old is high on the club’s transfer list.
Everton are targeting a right-back in January, with Jayden Bogle and Ben White among the names of potential signings.
Crystal Palace will also target El Ouahdi, whose performances have put him on the radar of many European clubs.
Zakaria El Ouahdi has ‘thumbs up’ from Everton staff
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes El Ouahdi is the profile of player that the club want to sign.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks there is a “chance” that the Morocco international moves to Merseyside in January.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Yeah, that’s one I actually did hear that’s further up the list. I think he’s more the right age.
“I think he certainly has the athletic qualities and is more of the attacking type. He scored, I think, four goals this season as well. It’s more the sort of fullback that I think is being considered. That’s certainly one that, from all I’d heard, was more likely than Ben White and certainly one that seems to have had a lot of thumbs up from a lot of the coaching staff and scouting staff.
“So that’s one that I think he’s got a much better chance. Although there’s interest from other clubs around him as well. I think Palace are after him and Stuttgart and Germany. But still, I think that Everton could be the destination. I think that’s one that’s got a higher chance of coming through.”
Everton and Aston Villa compete for striker
Manager David Moyes is also keen to bolster his strike force, with the club potentially making a move for Tammy Abraham.
Everton could join Aston Villa in pursuing Abraham, who is currently on loan at Turkish club Besiktas from Italian side Roma.
Roma are willing to let Abraham leave on a permanent deal in January, with the 28-year-old having previous Premier League experience with Chelsea.