Everton and Crystal Palace target Zakaria El Ouahdi ‘on verge of a transfer this month’ amid £10.4m claim
Everton are looking to enhance their full-back options this January
Everton and Crystal Palace are both pushing to sign KRC Genk’s Zakaria El Ouahdi this month after a recent development, according to a report.
El Ouahdi, who recently earned his first call up for Morocco earlier this year, is a talented right-back renowned for his immense attacking qualities which have also on occasions seen him be utilised as a right sided winger.
The 24-year-old talent has played his entire career in Belgium so far and is currently a first team regular in the top division with KRC Genk, who recently secured Europa League qualification after a stellar third place finish last season.
El Ouahdi could be allowed to leave in January
Africa Foot claimed in the build-up that Everton and Crystal Palace could emerge as contenders to sign El Ouahdi.
Het Laatste Nieuws have backed up those claims with a report of their own signalling that they believe the interest is fairly concrete. German side VfB Stuttgart are also thought to be in the mix, with the newspaper claiming that the player is ‘on the verge’ of completing a transfer this month while not yet specifying which team is the frontrunner.
Journalist Sacha Tavolieri reported in December that Genk are open to sanctioning a sale in this window and have set a €10-12m price. Which translates to a maximum of around £10.4m if this information is correct.
Why Everton and Crystal Palace are interested in rising talent El Ouahdi
Everton currently lack options at right-back amid veteran defender Seamus Coleman’s persistent injury struggles, which has led to centre-back Jake O’Brien often being deployed as a makeshift full-back. Scottish youngster Nathan Patterson has struggled to win the trust of David Moyes while Adam Aznou is seen as more of a natural left-back.
Everton want further strength in that area to boost their hopes of sneaking into a European spot, and El Ouahdi has been identified as the calibre of player with the potential to help the team achieve that goal.
El Ouahdi has an overall record of four goals and one assist from 20 appearances this term. He also managed eight goals and four assists from 40 appearances in a stellar individual campaign in Belgium last term.
Meanwhile, Palace are also interested as they look to enhance their team for the second half of the campaign. The FA Cup holders have struggled in the Premier League in recent weeks since Daniel Munoz’s injury at wing-back and are thought to be in the market for an understudy to the 29-year-old after Nathaniel Clyne’s recent struggles.