Sky Sports pundit tells ‘baby’ Amadou Onana to stay at Everton amid mooted big six interest
We’re delighted to welcome former Everton striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week the former Toffees captain will be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Goodison Park…
Amadou Onana is still “only a baby” and needs to stay at Everton for at least the next two years to prove himself, says Kevin Campbell.
The Belgium international midfielder arrived in the summer for a fee of £33.5million as the headline signing of the window, becoming virtually a certain starter in Frank Lampard’s midfield of late, and Jamie Redknapp said on Sky Sports [15 October, via HITC] his performances mean top six clubs will already have him “on their radar” for a move.
But Campbell, also a Sky Sports pundit, is clear that the young star needs to remain at Goodison Park for the foreseeable future to prove himself as the “dominant” player that his potential suggests he can be.
“I think Onana is going to be a top midfielder,” he exclusively told Goodison News.
“He’s got the size, he’s got the attributes to be really good. The best thing for Onana is to stay at Everton for the short term, meaning two or three years, because he’s got to prove himself.
“I know some of the other clubs might see him and say, ‘I’ll take him now’.
“But would he really start at some of the other clubs? I think he’s nailed on to start at Everton, he can play, and I would like to see Everton build with this youngster.
“What is he, 21? He’s only a baby, but the attributes he’s got, the quality he’s got, he could be a dominant player in the Premier League for years to come, and I’d love to see that at Everton.”
It was a pretty significant coup for Everton to land the young international in the summer, apparently snatching him from West Ham’s grasp at the last, especially when money has been so tight.
Already he has shown enough to be a regular starter despite occasional growing pains, and his age suggests he will improve the longer he has to get used to the Premier League.
It is no surprise that clubs across Europe would hold an interest in him, but leaving the Toffees too soon would be a major risk at this stage for him, and a big blow to the club, who need to do everything they can to keep hold of him in coming windows.