Everton learn Zakaria El Ouahdi price tag as KRC Genk exit beckons
Zakaria El Ouahdi has emerged as a summer transfer target for Everton.
Everton are in the market for a new right-back in the summer, with a report from Africa Foot stating that they have set their sights on KRC Genk defender, El Ouahdi.
The 24-year-old has been a regular for the Belgian side this season, with 30 appearances across all competitions, with seven goals and three assists to his name.
El Ouahdi scored twice in a recent Europa League win against Dinamo Zagreb, with interest from several European clubs emerging as a result.
Genk are said to want a fee in the region of £13.1million to sanction his exit this summer, which would be more than achievable for the Toffees in their attempts to bolster their backline.
Leading club named in Zakaria El Ouahdi pursuit
Everton aren’t the only club to have shown an interest in the 24-year-old, nor are they the only Premier League outfit to keep an eye on him.
Crystal Palace have also been linked with the Moroccan, with Dutch outfit PSV also having shown an interest.
But for Everton, their biggest concern stems from the fact that it is PSV who are believed to be leading the race currently, having already made contact with El Ouahdi’s entourage.
El Ouahdi has expressed a desire to find a new club in the summer, and the chance to play in the Premier League may hand the Merseysiders the upper hand.
Would El Ouahdi fit well at Everton?
Under David Moyes, Everton have rarely made use of the attacking qualities that their full-backs have to offer, and that is by far El Ouahdi’s biggest strength.
That is not only backed up by his 10 goal involvements this season, but also the fact that he has created 26 chances in the league alone.
To get the best out of him, the Toffees would need to utilise a system that pushes their wide defenders further up the pitch, aiding the likes of Iliman Ndiaye in their attempts to carve out opportunities.
But until that change is made, it would make very little sense for Everton to bring in an attacking full-back.
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