Everton are sniffing around Saud Abdulhamid.
TEAMtalk believe The Friedkin Group have made enquiries about the Saudi Arabia international as they attempt to sign a new right-back for David Moyes this summer, amid doubts over Nathan Patterson.
It is encouraging to see Everton addressing this problem position, but who exactly is Saud Abdulhamid?
Everton exploring deal to sign a player who fights “for every ball” in Saud Abdulhamid
In his own words, the 26-year-old is a player who loves to graft out on the pitch and dominate the right flank.
If you are David Moyes, who would be your starting right-back for the remainder of the season? 🤔
Everton need more in attack from their full-backs
A comparison of Jake O'Brien and Nathan Patterson's goal contributions for Everton.
Credit: Getty Images/Richard Martin-Roberts – CameraSport/George Wood.
Upon signing for Roma in August 2024, Abdulhamid said: “I will do my best as a footballer, my characteristics are speed, I like to play across the right wing, I like to fight with my heart for every ball and never give up.”
A difficult debut campaign in Rome – where he only made four Serie A appearances – led the Italian giants to loan the Saudi Arabian to Lens back in August, where he is having a great campaign as the French side sit top of Ligue 1.
TEAMtalk say Lens have an option to buy Abdulhamid from Roma this summer, but the Serie A side actually negotiated a buyback clause too – meaning they can technically take him back from Lens immediately if the French outfit were to sign the Everton target permanently.
Full name: Saud Abdullah Salem Abdulhamid
Age: 26
Date of birth: 18 July 1999
Height: 1.71m (5ft 7in)
Nationality: Saudi Arabian
Place of birth: Jeddah
Club: Lens (on loan from Roma)
Position: Right wing-back
Considering The Friedkin Group have already spoken to the man born in Jeddah before when luring him from Al-Hilal to Roma, Everton could have a strong chance of pulling this deal off.
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TEAMtalk add that Newcastle are also keen to sign Abdulhamid, however, a side owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia who are eager to have a Saudi Arabian playing for the Magpies.
The Lens No.23 has made 18 appearances in all competitions at right wing-back so far this season, scoring one goal and providing four assists as PSG find themselves in a title race against a surprise opponent.
Saud Abdulhamid interest provides further evidence that David Moyes is plotting a formation change
Moyes currently uses a 4-2-3-1 formation involving traditional full-backs, so as things stand, Abdulhamid doesn’t really fit in.
However, the Toffees are being strongly linked to a number of wing-backs ahead of the summer transfer window, which we feel could suggest a switch to a 3-4-2-1 is in the works.
Everton like Brooke Norton-Cuffy of Genoa, who has played in a right wing-back role this season like Abdulhamid, while Daniel Svensson of Borussia Dortmund is also a target, the Swede who occupies a left wing-back position in Germany.
Should David Moyes play with a back three and wing-backs more regularly for Everton?
Here's an XI the manager could go with after the switch-up vs Leeds… 🤔
A custom graphic showing Everton in a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Credit: GRV Media
Moyes did randomly test out a 3-4-2-1 formation in the second half of the recent 1-1 draw against Leeds, and with The Friedkin Group now looking at Abdulhamid, a system change could well occur next term.
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