Everton are reportedly showing concrete interest in signing 22-year-old AZ Alkmaar defender Owen Wijndal this summer.
According to De Telegraaf, Premier League side, Everton are seeking a move for 22-year-old AZ Alkmaar star Owen Wijndal in the summer transfer window.
The 22-year-old has been with the Dutch giants since 2010, coming through the youth ranks before making his first-team bow in the 2016/17 campaign. Wijndal has since developed into a key first-team player, amassing 143 appearances while scoring four goals and assisting 27 more.
Despite his age, the youngster is already a seasoned professional and has also earned 11 caps for the Dutch national side. Primarily a left-back, Wijndal is good on the ball and possesses acute defensive awareness. This coupled with his ability to bomb forward makes Wijndal a modern-day full-back waiting to explode onto the big stage.
Everton struggled to retain their Premier League status last season and are in need of a summer rebuild to boost their chances of competing in the 2022/23 campaign. Adding Wijndal to the roster would be a step in the right direction.
Ukrainian full-back Vitaliy Mykolenko is the Toffees’ lone senior specialist left-back at the moment. Securing Wijndal will not just hand Frank Lampard the strength in depth but also give Everton a player who can potentially go on to be world-class.
More so, Mykolenko, despite his promise, has much to learn. Putting all their faith in just the Ukrainian to hold the fort all season could backfire for Everton. Landing a player of Wijndal’s potential for around €10 million would represent a terrific piece of business.
Having two young left-backs to battle it among themselves for the upcoming decade more or less future-proofs the position for Everton for the foreseeable future. But Everton will need to move fast if they are keen on landing the AZ Alkmaar star. The 22-year-old’s performances have also attracted the attention of Ajax, Sevilla and Napoli. Ajax, in particular, have already had a bid rejected.
The Toffees continue to struggle in the shadow of their more illustrious domestic rivals Liverpool and cannot compete with the Reds financially or on the field. The only way for Everton to close the gap is to invest in the playing squad by making shrewd moves. Going all out for Wijndal makes sense for a team that is lacking in quality.
A move to Goodison Park might not be the most glamorous one for Wijndal, but playing in the Premier League will elevate his qualities to a bigger audience. With the 2022 FIFA World Cup coming up, the Dutch international will also have the opportunity to show Louis van Gaal that he deserves to be a part of the Oranje squad travelling to Qatar.
Wijndal is not the only left-back on the Toffees’ radar this summer. Former Barcelona man Sergio Gomez is also on Everton’s wishlist as the Merseyside outfit look to fill the gap caused due to Lucas Digne’s January departure to Aston Villa.
