Steven Defour details private Everton talks with Amadou Onana
Mechelen manager Steven Defour has detailed private conversations with Amadou Onana as the Everton midfielder enjoys a positive first season at Goodison Park.
The Belgium international has been one of the Toffees’ standout performers and was also given the chance to represent his country at the World Cup in Qatar.
Former Burnley midfielder, Defour, has revealed he has been in contact with the 21-year-old to offer him advice.
“I’ve spoken to him. He’s confident because he believes in his qualities and he’s worked hard to get where he is,” he told the Liverpool Echo (23 February).
“He was really open because he knows me and knows he can speak to the gaffer and myself for advice. It was a really good conversation, he listened and I think if he carries on developing then he can have a great career.
“The Premier League is unforgiving, we see that with Everton now, they’ve always been one of the top teams but the Premier League never stops improving. If Amadou wants to evolve like he’s doing now and Sean can work with him, he can add new elements to his game and become a really good player.”
Destined for the top
Considering Onana’s age and the levels he’s performed at this season, there’s no doubt that he’s destined to make it to the very top. He’s embraced his surroundings at Goodison Park and even shot down potential interest in himself during the January window.
According to Nieuwsbladsport journalist Pieter-Jan Calcoen (Twitter, 26 January), the 21-year-old turned down the advances of Chelsea, with the Belgium international eager to ensure Everton’s Premier League survival.
There’s no doubt that Onana will be a vital cog in Sean Dyche’s side for the remainder of the campaign. Everton have another golden chance to put some distance between themselves and the bottom three when Aston Villa travel to Goodison Park on Saturday (25 February).
Unai Emery’s side have lost three games on the spin and are in need of a win to avoid getting caught up in the relegation conversation themselves. The Toffees’ home form promises to be absolutely essential from now until the end of the 2022/23 campaign.