Everton join race for Club Brugge attacker Charles De Ketelaere
Everton have “made themselves heard” in the race for Club Brugge attacker Charles De Ketelaere, according to Italian news outlet Gazzetta.
Leeds United have been following the 21-year-old Belgium international for a number of weeks with Italian newspaper Libero reporting (7 July, page 30) that Leeds are ready to pay £29.8million, plus £4.3million in add-ons for the attacker.
Italian media outlet Calciomercato reported on 7 July that De Ketelaere has told Belgian title-winners Brugge that he wants to leave and that AC Milan is his preferred destination.
However, the Italian champions are struggling financially and Gazzetta reported in their print edition (8 July, page 2) that Everton and Southampton “have made themselves heard” with time running out for Milan to strike a deal.
Long shot
This would be a huge coup for Everton to move ahead of all the competition for the 21-year-old with De Ketelaere very much set on a move to AC Milan.
However, the Belgium attacker is pretty much the ideal player that Frank Lampard and Kevin Thelwell should be targeting this summer.
The attacker is young, has Champions League experience, has featured for his country and could well develop further.
Anywhere around the £30million mark would be an absolute steal for the Toffees if they could pull it off.
It appears that Leeds are very much in the running the Club Brugge man and it would take a huge turn of events for the young attacker to end up at Everton.
However, Leeds have spent over £90million this window so there is every chance that the Whites may not be able to afford to stump up for De Ketelaere.
Certainly one to keep an eye on if AC Milan pull out of the deal.