Everton must keep tabs on Anfernee Dijksteel after outstanding Charlton Athletic performance

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Anfernee Dijksteel stood out by a mile for the Charlton Athletic U23s on Monday – so even his new contract shouldn’t ward off Everton.

Steve Walsh with Claudio Ranieri during his Leicester City days

We’re sure Everton’s interest in Charlton Athletic prodigy Anfernee Dijksteel, as reported by South London Press, is more a consequence of his thrilling potential rather than the fact he has arguably the greatest name in football. Move over Bernd Haas.

Director of football Steve Walsh is scouring the nation for under-the-radar talents with the likes of Bright Osayi-Samuel, George Hirst and 15-year-old Nottingham Forest prospect Brennan Johnson linked to Goodison Park recently.

Therefore, Dijksteel, a Dutch under-20 international with a bright future in the game, certainly fits their remit. Unfortunately for Everton, the chances of him following fellow Charlton starlet Ademola Lookman to Merseyside appeared to have taken a hit when he signed a new contract up until 2020 recently.

Yet, that does not mean that Everton should stop watching the 20-year-old with interest. Especially after he put in a mesmerising midfield performance as The Addicks Under-23s lost on penalties to Hull City in the League Two play-off on Monday.

Silky smooth in possession, a cultured, clever passer and confident enough to delve into his extensive bag of tricks, he looks the archetypal Dutch central midfielder.

“His game understanding is excellent and he is very good in possession of the ball, as a lot of players that come from Holland are. He’s strong, he covers the ground extremely well,” Charlton boss Karl Robinson said in quotes reported by Kent Live.

Therefore, it appears that his accelerated development could earn him an opportunity in the Charlton first-team sooner rather than later.

By which time, however, Everton’s interest will surely have intensified. After all, manager Ronald Koeman, a bonafide Dutch legend, could see plenty of his younger self in the powerful 20-year-old.