According to Correio da Manha, Everton are monitoring the situation of Benfica attacker Andrija Zivkovic. The Portuguese giants are ready to cash in on the Serbian international as they look to get him off the wage bill this summer.
The report claims that Zivkovic has a release clause of €60 million. But, Benfica will be willing to let go of their star attacker for a fee around €35 million. And this has put Everton on red alert as they aim to add more options to their attack this summer.
Zivkovic’s struggles at Benfica
Once regarded as the next best thing in Serbian football, Zivkovic has struggled to make his mark at Benfica since joining the club back in 2016. The 22-year-old failed to muster 1,000 minutes of league football during his debut campaign with the Eagles.
He was involved in seven goals the following season. But, he still struggled to make himself a regular fixture in the starting lineup. And following the breakout of Joao Felix, Zivkovic’s overall game time has been drastically minimised, with the attacker restricted to just 660 minutes of league football in the recently concluded campaign.
What can Zivkovic offer to the table?
A right winger by trade, Zivkovic loves to cut-inside and have an effort on goal. His quick-feet allows him to take on defenders while his vicious left foot makes him a threat from outside the box.
The 22-year-old has a rather short frame of 1.69m, and this helps him retain his balance when approaching defenders at full speed. It also becomes useful when nestling through tight spaces and conjuring up attacking opportunities in the final third.
His biggest strength, however, is his versatility. Indeed, Zivkovic doesn’t have a designated weak foot, allowing him to feature on both flanks. But, he can also operate as a number ten and even a false-nine if necessary.
Do Everton need Zivkovic?
The addition of Zivkovic will revamp Everton’s attacking department that has appeared over-reliant on the services of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Richarlison. However, that is only if the Serbian manages to play to his full potential.
Indeed, his struggles in the Portuguese top flight have already lain doubts over his credential of playing in the highest level of football. And it’s probably needless to say that making the jump to the Premier League could be even bigger an ask for the 22-year-old.
Furthermore, for a fee of €35 million, Zivkovic will be nothing more than a massive gamble from Everton’s perspective. Hence, it would perhaps be wiser for the Toffees to shift their attention towards a more well-established attacker in the European top flight this summer.
