Everton have held talks over a deal to sign Zakaria El Ouahdi from Genk this summer.
Reports in Africa claim Everton have been in discussions with Genk over a move for the Morocco international, as The Friedkin Group look to sign a natural right-back for David Moyes.
El Ouahdi is an exceptional player when it comes to attacking – but the Toffees have now been warned by Belgian analysts Hein Vanhaezebrouck and Franky Van der Elst that the Moroccan could be found out defensively in the Premier League.
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Everton warned against signing Zakaria El Ouahdi due to defensive weaknesses
Whilst chatting on Sporza about the Genk No.77 and interest from England – Crystal Palace are also keen – it was said that he could be exposed if he moves to the Premier League.
A comparison to Daniel Munoz – who left Genk for Crystal Palace in January 2024 – was also made.
Van der Elst said: “If you want to be the best of the last 25 years, you must not only be able to attack and score goals, you must also be able to defend, and that is a problem with El Ouahdi. He allows himself to be neutralised too easily defensively. He also frequently makes the wrong decisions.”
Vanhaezebrouck added: “It is expected he will make a nice transfer, but I don’t think the absolute top clubs are going to come and get him. Munoz is quite a bit bigger than him in terms of tackling ability and aerial duels, which is not unimportant for a right‑back. He won’t be a target for the big clubs in England.”
That is undoubtedly a red flag, but Everton are in the business of finding top talents before they become complete players, and the 24-year-old still ticks that box.
El Ouahdi – available for a low price of £13m – has the ideal manager to coach him on his defensive shortcomings in Moyes.
Only Arsenal and Manchester City have conceded fewer than the 35 goals shipped by Everton so far this season, for example.
Having said that, Moyes has already shown his reluctance to play young talents who still have improvements to make – like Adam Aznou, Merlin Rohl and Tyler Dibling – so the warning from Vanhaezebrouck and Van der Elst could well tempt the Glaswegian to look elsewhere.
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A more senior, developed option has already been linked as Everton monitor Ben White at Arsenal, so be sure to keep an eye on developments at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
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