Report: Everton interested in £18m-rated Zeki Celik after cooling interest in Max Aarons
Everton have reportedly emerged as suitors for Lille right-back Zeki Celik after cooling interest in Norwich City's Max Aarons.
According to L'Equipe, the 24-year-old has been on the radar of a couple of Premier League clubs for a while and could be in line for a move away from France this summer.
The report suggests that, along with Everton, Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on securing his services.
The Premier League duo have been competing for the right-back since last June, per a report in The Times.
Back then he was valued at £18m and is likely to be available for a similar price this time around. His contract expires in the summer of 2023, but given the clubs interested in him, he's exploring his options before making a final decision.
Could be worth exploring
Lille defied all odds and won the Ligue 1 title this season. Christophe Galtier and his side capitalised on the turmoil at PSG along with a bunch of talented individuals at the club to make a collective push for the league title.
Now that it's achieved, the dismantling process has already begun at Stade Pierre Mauroy - and Celik could follow suit with a reported Premier League interest.
Celik's enjoyed a good campaign for Lille and would be a decent fit for us. He may not instantly walk into our playing eleven but he has the quality to show for and could be eased into the Seamus Coleman role over the course of next season.
According to WhoScored, he played in 29 league games this past season and averaged 2.5 tackles per 90 minutes. Offensively, he's completed 2.85 crosses on an average per game and has also been impressive at winning duels, with 19.29. [Wyscout]
Celik's clearly a well-rounded full-back who's equally good at defending as he is going forward. If we're getting him for £18m, it's a good deal and Marcel Brands should get this one over the line.
In other Everton news, Report: European club set price tag for 'Extraordinary' Everton target - Ancelotti is a fan