Everton rumored close to a deal for Yacine Brahimi

According to reports Porto winger Yacine Brahimi has softened on his stance for Champions League games and might be willing to join Everton before this transfer window closes. He currently has a £51 million release clause, but Everton will be looking to reach an agreement for less than that number. His current value according to transfermarkt.com is around £20 million and accounting for the current market spending and the leverage Porto has you should expect £30 million to be the starting point.

Brahimi plays on the left wing as well as right and as central attacking midfielder. It would be an interesting signing after the addition of Yannick Bolasie and the already crowded wing position. The team currently has several midfielders who man the wing position including Gerard Deulofeu, Kevin Mirallas, Aaron Lennon and to a lesser extent Arouna Kone. That plus Brahimi would seem to demand Everton look to unload one of these players along with Oumar Niasse who has still not completed his loan transfer.

Brahimi is a strong dribbler and excels at ball retention and passing. His finishing, crossing and aerial skills are not as strong though. He seems very similar to Bolasie in this regard, while a much stronger player though. I wouldn’t expect Steve Walsh and Ronald Koeman to break the bank on this move, but Brahimi would be a great addition to the club if they can complete the deal.