Everton involved in chase to sign Axel Witsel

According to reports Everton are involved alongside Chelsea and other Premier League teams to sign Belgium international Axel Witsel from Zenit St Petersburg in the Russian Premier Liga. The player is currently involved with Belgium in the Euro 2016 competition and has attracted several teams for his strong central midfield play.

Witsel plays a central midfield role, but is known to slot as an attacking midfielder as well as a defensive midfielder. Everton will be looking to shore up the midfield position behind Ross Barkley with Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar departing and Gareth Barry getting another season older. Darron Gibson and James McCarthy also provide additional depth at the position.

He is 27 years old and his value is estimated at about £27 million currently, but as with many players his value will likely be inflated with a solid Euro 2016 tournament. This adds to the list of potential midfielders nearing the age of 30 linked with Everton this off season. It’s curious if this is the direction that Ronald Koeman and Farhad Moshiri are intending to go or just where the tabloids are finding the easiest links to make with our new money.