On Sunday The People linked Everton with a potential move for Steven N’Zonzi, working on the link with Leicester City.
Everton recruited Steve Walsh from Leicester over the summer, and the recruitment expert had reportedly targeted N’Zonzi for the Premier League champions. Leicester were most heavily linked with N’Zonzi right at the end of the window, with Nampalys Mendy being signed much earlier, so the Foxes links always had a little doubt attached.
The claims that Leicester had made a £25m offer didn’t stack up. N’Zonzi’s release clause is €30m and back then that would have converted to £25.1m, which would make bidding £100k less, and refusing to go higher, seem a little odd.
The interest from Goodison makes sense. Everton were traditionally, and repeatedly, linked with Axel Witsel throughout the summer transfer window, and then there was the Moussa Sissoko disappointment on deadline day.
Given N’Zonzi’s prominence at Sevilla right now it may be considered that he could edge ahead of the other two in terms of level, and he’s also got good Premier League experience. The Frenchman has lived in England long enough, over spells with Blackburn Rovers and Stoke, for adaptation not to be an issue.
When he left Stoke for Sevilla, N’Zonzi initially struggled to impose himself, but is now a crucial part of the club’s team. If Everton want him then the price is the €30m clause, but even then they may face a struggle convincing the player.
Sevilla are currently third in La Liga, a place and point ahead of Barcelona, and doing well in their Champions League group. A 0-0 draw away to Juventus and a victory over Lyon sees Sevilla on four points and in a good position to qualify for the knockout stages.
N’Zonzi has a contract with Sevilla until June 2019, but the Spanish club may well look to improve that and increase the 27 year old’s buyout clause. A lot will depend on N’zonzi’s wish, because Sevilla have shown repeatedly that they don’t try to hold players back when a big opportunity presents itself.
