By Peter Lynch

30th Mar, 2023 | 9:10pm

Journalist tips Everton youngster Amadou Onana to become future captain, can lead Toffees in new era at new stadium

Amadou Onana has been tipped to become the captain of Everton by the time the club move into their new stadium by journalist Chris Beesley, writing in the Liverpool Echo.

The midfielder is just 21, but has shown his maturity and indeed his talent on the pitch for the Toffees since joining from Lille last summer.

The youngster has now been backed to one day captain Everton, having recently been handed the armband for Belgium in their friendly win over Germany on Tuesday (28 March).

“Many who watch Onana regularly have already suggested he could be a potential skipper and he has already built up a great rapport with Blues supporters who he regularly cajoles during matches and entertains with his extrovert gestures,” Beesley wrote in the Liverpool Echo.

“Everton’s most-successful captain Kevin Ratcliffe was just 23 when he was handed the role and David Moyes was reputedly willing to give Wayne Rooney the armband at the tender age of 18 had he spurned Manchester United’s advances in 2004. 

“Age, then, needn’t be a barrier. If the Blues can hang on to one of their most-precocious talents – the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea were linked with a move with him during the January transfer window – then who knows, maybe Onana could even lead Everton out for their first ever game at the new stadium?”

Future skipper?

Despite his age, there is no doubting that the very talented Onana is capable of leading Everton under Sean Dyche.

But there are two main barriers preventing the midfielder from picking up the prestigious honour in the near future, one of which is the current issues surrounding the construction of the new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock.

But perhaps the more pressing issue is that of trying to keep Onana at the club. The promising midfielder has been linked with a Goodison Park exit in recent times, with many top clubs reportedly chasing his signature.

He is currently excelling for both club and country, with Everton facing a huge task in trying to persuade him to stay.

That task will be made near-impossible if the Toffees drop down to the Championship at the end of the season, a very real situation given the fact they are just three points off the bottom of the table.