Everton want to sign Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria, £21m gets deal done

Everton want to sign Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria ahead of West Ham, Marseille and Nice according to Gazzetta Dello Sport (July 11, pg 5).

Zakaria spent last season on loan at Chelsea but struggled to break into the team and has since returned to Juventus, but is expected to leave the club.

West Ham are believed to be at the front of the queue for a £21m deal (Sky Sports, 11 July), but according to a new report from Italy Everton are also showing an interest in the player.

"Not just West Ham," they wrote.

"In the last few hours Nice's interest in Denis Zakaria, a midfielder leaving Juventus, has also emerged.

"More secluded however, Everton and Marseille."

Strength

Central midfield was arguably the position where Everton had the most depth and quality in the 2022/23 season, but that doesn't mean it can't be strengthened again.

Idrissa Gueye, Amadou Onana, Abdoulaye Doucoure, James Garner and Alex Iwobi currently make up the midfield options after Tom Davies' exit from the club at the end of his contract, but there are doubts over the future of the Belgian.

Add to that the fact that Gueye is getting older and Iwobi was predominantly used on the wing under Sean Dyche, Zakaria could be a fantastic bit of business as an experienced international for a relatively moderate fee.

£20m is a lot of money for Everton right now and we certainly have greater priorities than midfield as it stands, but it's certainly a fair fee for a player of that calibre.

There's a lot of interest in the player so if a deal is to get done then the club will need to move quickly, but it's interesting that they want another midfielder if all things go to plan this summer.

In other Everton news, 'Outstanding' striker can join for initial £17m after bid rejected.