David Moyes’ Everton are ready to trigger Omar El Hilali’s €30 million release clause to sign him in January.
According to a report from Fichajes, Everton will reignite their pursuit of Espanyol full-back Omar El Hilali when the transfer window reopens in January. After failing to strike a deal with the Spanish club in the recently concluded window, the Toffees have now decided to trigger his release clause mid-season.
El Hilali has come up the ranks at Espanyol. He got promoted to their first team at the start of 2023 and hasn’t looked back since. He managed to establish himself as one of their mainstays in no time and has already made 90 senior appearances.
The 22-year-old has started all three of their league games in the new season and also has an assist to his name. His impressive performances have helped him break into the Moroccan national team, and he also finds himself on the wishlist of some top clubs across Europe.
With just two years left on his deal, quite a few clubs knocked on Espanyol’s door and tried to negotiate a deal. Como made a €14 million offer, while Nottingham Forest also submitted a bid. However, the Spanish outfit were not willing to let him leave for anything less than his release clause.
Even Everton tried to strike a deal for the 22-year-old, with David Moyes keen on reinforcing the right side of his defence. However, the Toffees failed to secure his services as Espanyol kept rejecting proposals.
Everton are ready to pay up for El Hilali
Following a serious injury to Nathan Patterson, signing a new right-back has become a top priority for the Merseyside club, as they can no longer depend on the 36-year-old Seamus Coleman. Moyes is desperately looking for more quality on the right flank, and the board has decided to make a move in the winter.
El Hilali is their priority target, and they have decided to go all out for him. While they could have secured his services for €25 million (initial release clause) in the summer, the Toffees will now have to pay €30 million in the winter, as the clause increased following his debut for Morocco.
While it is a significant fee, Everton seem willing to trigger his release clause, viewing him as a systematic investment for the long run.