According to Sky Sports, Everton have joined Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign highly-rated Lille midfielder Yves Bissouma this summer.
What’s the word, then?
Well, Sky Sports say that the Toffees, along with their Premier League rivals are keen on the 21-year-old, but they could face competition for his signature from Schalke and Monaco.
Sky Sports says that while Tottenham have scouted the Mali international intensive throughout the campaign, the Merseyside outfit’s interest in the player may have been held by former head of recruitment Steve Walsh rather than replacement Marcel Brands, who can become an instant Goodison Park hero if he completes an ambitious £70m deal.
However, the report adds that the Dutchman and the club are still looking for a player of a similar profile to Bissouma, meaning that Walsh’s departure may not have killed any potential move.
How did Bissouma do this season?
The midfielder was outstanding and ended the campaign having made 24 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille, scoring two goals and picking up one assist.
The Mali international showed his quality on the pall with a passing accuracy of 85.2% in those French top flight outings, as per WhoScored.com, while he also showed his ability to take on his opponents and move forward while in possession having successfully completed 55 of the 75 dribbles he attempted.
Meanwhile, the 21-year-old showed his defensive capabilities by making 31 interceptions and winning 68 of the 88 tackles he attempted.
[ad_pod ]
Would he be a good signing for Everton?
He certainly would be.
Toffees supporters generally weren’t pleased with Morgan Schneiderlin’s performances last season alongside Idrissa Gueye in the middle of the park, and Bissouma could prove to be an upgrade and a real breath of fresh air alongside his fellow African next season if he signs for the Merseyside club.
One of the main annoyances the Goodison Park faithful have with the Frenchman is his tendency to make a sideways pass rather than a forward one, and the Mali international would certainly help to eradicate that issue as he is strong and loves to dribble forward with the ball.
