According to Liverpool Echo, Everton have stepped up their pursuit of Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele.
The Toffees could face stiff competition from a host of top clubs across Europe for Ndombele and will have to fork out fee of £40 million.
Ndombele has risen to prominence after impressive performances in Ligue 1 and the Champions League have caught the eye of other European clubs.
Tanguy Ndombele: Player profile
Much like Watford star Abdoulaye Doucoure, Ndombele is a dynamic midfielder, who is blessed with excellent technical prowess. His agility and dynamism make him a handful for the opposition as Ndombele often likes to swarm forward whenever possible.
The Frenchman has averaged over 50 passes per game with an impressive accuracy of 87% – a tally only bettered by his compatriot Morgan Schneiderlin (given he has played only 250 minutes of football so far) in the Everton squad this season.
But, what sets Ndombele apart is his exceptional physical prowess, which helps him keep hold of the ball even under pressure. This allows him to carry the ball in the final third, where he can create chances for his team – as reflected by his tally of 21 key passes this season.
Tanguy Ndombele is exactly what Everton need
It has been a topsy-turvy campaign for Everton so far. But, following a rather slow start to the season, the Toffees are slowly finding their mojo under Marco Silva.
That being said, the midfield department has been a real issue for the Portuguese with the club lacking necessary depth. The experienced Schneiderlin has struggled to crack the first team while James McCarthy has returned from a long injury layoff, meaning Idrissa Gueye remains the only reliable option for Silva at the moment.
Therefore, the addition of Tanguy Ndombele could solidify the midfield department as well as give Silva more freedom to rotate his squad.
As iterated earlier, Ndombele is a dynamic midfielder who can aid the Everton midfield with his driving runs in the final third while his physical prowess makes him a tailor-made fit for the more physical Premier League.
Although a fee of £40 million may seem rather expensive, it’s a gamble worth taking for Everton as they look to make a push for the Champions League places during the second half of the campaign.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored