Amadou Onana to go out with bang for Everton as fresh Manchester United speculation emerges at Goodison Park
Amadou Onana must prove his worth to prospective clubs this weekend when Everton face Aston Villa amid reports of a Premier League switch.
The 22-year-old has been linked with moves to two Top 6 sides. Alfredo Pedulla claimed (16 August) he has been a target for Manchester United in their efforts to secure a new midfielder, while Offsider reporter Aaron Dominguez tweeted that Liverpool had made contact with Everton about Onana.
With a big move on the cards for the Belgian international, he will look to go out with a bang for the Toffees on Sunday (20 August) against Villa, in what the Goodison Park faithful will hope will not be his last.
Even though Sean Dyche’s opening-day hopes were shattered by Fulham in a 1-0 loss, the team performed well and out-shot the Cottagers 19 to 9.
While their forward line was disappointing that afternoon, Onana had a good performance. With 84.4% passing accuracy, including 100% long-pass accuracy by completing a quintuple of long balls, he ensured Everton remained solid in the midfield. [FBRef]
He also contributed to the attack, producing five shot-creating passes against Fulham. If the likes of Neal Maupay and James Garner were more lethal at Goodison he’d have got an assist too.
That being said, defence is Onana’s game and at just 22 years old, he has the profile and the physique to work well in a European-level club.
Elsewhere, Unai Emery will be plotting his comeback after a surprise thrashing at the hands of Newcastle United. Sean Dyche can expect a tough away fixture in Birmingham, and Onana will have to be dominant in the midfield if he wants to stop the likes of Moussa Diaby and Ollie Watkins.
Recent history does not read well for the Toffees either, having lost all of their four clashes with the Villans, with an aggregate score of 8-1.
However, if he is eyeing up a move away from Goodison, Sunday would be a good time to break that trend.
In other Everton news, Dyche has been tipped to drop a forward and give a first start against Aston Villa.