Everton enter transfer race for next great French midfielder

One of the things that we like to focus on here at Royal Blue Mersey is what kind of players Everton should be targeting in the transfer window. In years past, the club have gotten themselves into a bit of trouble with buying older, late peak players like Ashley Williams and Yannick Bolasie. Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun fall under this category, too, although the jury is still out.

The type of players that will take Everton to the promised land, though, are those like Richarlison and Yerry Mina. Young, talented, and headed for stardom - but with some development left to do. Enter Tanguy Ndombele.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Blues are tracking the Lyon star pretty closely.

Everton are interested in Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele.

The Blues have been running the rule over the 21-year-old and recently sent chief scout Martyn Glover to watch the France international.

Everton would face competition from a host of top European clubs should they make a move for the player who joined Lyon permanently this summer for just €8m from Amiens, after initially signing on loan.

Ndombele, who has starred in this season’s Champions League for the Ligue 1 club, is valued at £40m and Manchester City were linked with showing interest in him, earlier this month.

Not only is Ndombele young, he is very, very good. It’s long been said that Everton need a true ball progressing midfielder to pair with Idrissa Gueye, and the 21 year old Frenchman profiles as exactly that.

The fact that Ndombele has been scouted by the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur tells you most of what you need to know. Tanguy is going places, and soon.

Everton can sell him on an excellent manager and immediate playing time, and the prospect of European football, too. Ndombele may not be afforded the minutes at City or Spurs that he would at Everton, and that fact could be the swing vote in the mind of a young player.

The one wrinkle here is the presence of Andre Gomes. Should Everton convert Gomes’ loan into a permanent sale, he would be competing with Ndombele for the starting spot next to Idrissa Gueye. Healthy competition is a good thing, though, and this correspondent is here to tell you that the Blues should sign Tanguy Ndombele regardless of the remaining situation in midfield. He’s that good.