Big things are expected from Everton next season with the managerial change as new owner Farhad Moshiri turned towards Ronald Koeman parting ways with Roberto Martinez whose time at Goodison Park won’t be remembered fondly by the fans. However, it’s still surprising to see the Toffees yet to start their business in the transfer market even though there is a substantial financial backing from the hierarchy.
Koeman knew it very well that the job he is accepting was a monumental one. The squad he inherited from his predecessor Martinez lacks quality in almost every position and we did expect the Dutchman to make early use of the transfer window. That has not been the case and probably the reason behind that is the uncertainty regarding the future of key players like Lukaku and Stones.
However, the first deal Everton could pull off this summer could be the bargain of the transfer window. According to Dutch newspaper Voetbal International, Dutch side Utrecht wants €8m for striker Sebastien Haller who is a prime target of the Toffees courtesy of his brilliant showing in Eredivisie past campaign.
The 22-year-old made a name for himself in Dutch football over the last 18 months banging in 35 goals and providing 11 assists from just 59 games. First joining the Eredivisie club on loan from his boyhood club Auxerre, the move was made permanent after the Frenchman’s massive immediate impact.
The 22-year-old netted 24 goals in all competitions last season from 42 games. He is still quite young and can be moulded into a more dangerous forward if he makes a move to Everton. Koeman is a brilliant manager to work with especially when you are an attacking player and at the Blue half of Merseyside, Haller will have a much better team around him.
Eredivisie has always been the breeding ground for talented players but in the past few years, we have seen some of the Eredivisie stars struggling to make their mark in the Premier League. We believe Haller could well be an exception to this recent trend. The Frenchman has a big frame of 6’2” and possesses the physical strength that is one of the key attributes to thrive in the Premier League.
For a striker who is 6’2”, Haller is quite fast and has good ability on the ball. He is primarily a target man but not at all someone who is very static up front. Regardless of the future of Lukaku, signing Haller for just €8m would be an incredible piece of a bargain. Considering how inflated the market is right now, it would be nothing short of daylight robbery.
This article is written by Craig Kester.
