Everton boss David Moyes will be hoping to sign three new players in the January transfer window – but one star has seemingly turned them down.
Everton have had a decent start to the Premier League campaign, taking 24 points from 16 games and looking like a threat in terms of potentially earning a European spot.
The Toffees have seen the likes of Iliman Ndiaye hit top form, whilst Jack Grealish looks a man reborn after his loan spell and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been a real star over the past few weeks.
But additions are needed, and David Moyes will be looking at the transfer shortlist – with Zakaria El Ouahdi being a potential target, though he’s reportedly said no to a move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Zakaria El Ouahdi in action for Genk in the Belgian Pro League
Photo by Tom Goyvaerts / Belga / AFP via Getty Images
Everton snubbed by Zakaria El Ouahdi as right-back search intensifies
A report by Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri states that KRC Genk ‘revelation’ Zakaria El Ouahdi is attracting interest from the Premier League.
At the moment, Crystal Palace lead the race, having already been in contact with the representatives of the Belgian-born Morocco international.
The right wing-back has opened the door to a move to Selhurst Park, being one of the main options to replace Daniel Munoz if Palace fail to complete a deal for Bayern Munich full-back Sacha Boey.
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However, Everton have made enquiries as they look for a new attacking right-back to add more of a threat down the right-hand side.
But The Friedkin Group’s attempts to lure him to the Hill Dickinson Stadium have fallen flat, with El Ouahdi reportedly declining as he prefers a club that is ‘not fighting relegation’.
That seems a tad bizarre, given that the Toffees currently sit in ninth in the Premier League table, 11 points clear of relegation woes – only two points behind Palace, albeit the Eagles do have European football.
El Ouahdi would cost around £10million from Genk, and with Palace having previous joy by taking Munoz from Genk, it seems a natural progression plan for them.
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Everton have struggled with output from Jake O’Brien this season, though that is of no discredit to the Irishman.
O’Brien is 6ft 6in, a natural centre-back, and although he’s superb defensively, going forward and garnering assists simply isn’t his forte.
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Zakaria El Ouahdi already has four goals and an assist from right-back this season, and with 12 goals and eight assists in just 85 games for Genk, the 23-year-old would have been a solid signing.
Whether he will change his mind is yet to be seen, but at least his early snub means that David Moyes can focus on other targets in the January transfer window – with Alan Myers reporting that former Burnley star Vitinho is a target.
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