Everton step up pursuit of Dynamo Moscow teenager Arsen Zakharyan
Everton are closing in on signing Dynamo Moscow midfielder Arsen Zakharyan, according to TuttoMercatoWeb.
Earlier this month, TEAMTalk reported that the Toffees were scouting the 18-year-old but faced competition from Manchester City and Chelsea.
However, it now appears as if Everton have the edge to sign a player who is regarded as one of Russia’s hottest prospects.
TuttoMercatoWeb claim that the Merseyside outfit are “pressing hard” to get Zakharyan, with contact “proceeding very quickly”.
The teenage “revelation”, the report states, is worth at least £8.5m.
Star of the future
Zakharyan’s star has been rising rapidly over the last 12 months following his Russian Premier League debut in November 2020.
He most often lines up on the right hand side of midfield but is also capable of featuring in the centre or on the left.
Three goals and five assists in the final 11 games of last season helped the midfielder win Dynamo Moscow’s player of the year award and the accolade for Russia’s best under-21 player.
This season, he has scored three goals and registered six assists in 14 appearances, with Dynamo second in the league table.
Zakharyan made his senior international debut in September, becoming the youngest outfield player in Russian national team history at 18 years, three months and five days old.
He seems destined for a move to one of Europe’s top leagues, and while several of the clubs reportedly interested in him can offer the prospect of Champions League football, Zakharyan could be lured to Goodison Park by the opportunity to play more regularly.
At £8.5m, or slightly more, the midfielder would be a steal for the Toffees when you consider his potential.
In other Everton news, one out of favour Toffee is being tipped for a January loan exit.
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