Everton are showing keen interest in signing Schalke 04 youngster Assan Ouedraogo, according to Florian Plettenberg.
The Sky Sports journalist shared on his personal Twitter account (16 October) that the Toffees will battle the likes of Brighton and Liverpool to sign the highly-rated 17-year-old midfielder who is seen as one of the best talents to have come out of the club’s academy in many years.
The Toffees are looking to bolster their midfield in the January window, and they have been linked with a loan move for Kalvin Phillips. However, they are also looking at other options, and Ouedraogo is one of them.
The midfielder has a release clause that becomes active in 2024 with clubs from abroad will have to pay €20m (£17.2m) to secure his signature.
Fantastic talent
Ouedraogo is a fantastic young talent and he is billed as the “German Paul Pogba”. The teenage sensation has made an instant impact at Schalke, and journalist Fraser Fletcher described him as a “special player” earlier this month.
He is well-known in the academy circle in Germany and has featured in every level of youth international football. The youngster has featured nine times for Schalke in the Bundesliga 2 division this season and has impressed heavily.
It will be really interesting to see if the aforementioned Premier League clubs are willing to pay a hefty fee to sign him. While a move to Liverpool or Brighton may appeal to him, Everton could be a perfect place for his development.
He will get regular games at Goodison Park and can use the Toffees as a stepping stone for a high-profile transfer in the future if he fulfills his potential.
However, given Everton’s financial plight, doubts remain whether they would be keen to pay anything over £17m for Ouedraogo as yet.
