When completing a £2 million move from AZ Alkmaar to Toulouse during the summer transfer window, there was one big question mark hanging over Zakaria Aboukhlal.
“His qualities his athletic (ability). He is an atypical player because he is two-footed. He is always in good positions, with good technical quality,” a Dutch football expert told Les Violets.
“His faults are his mentality; a nonchalant attitude with a lack of consistency in his finish.”
“Zakaria Aboukhlal is a youngster who still needs to progress in several areas,” adds reporter Hanif Berkane. “Notably technique and finishing.”
Aboukhlal already appears to be putting those concerns over his end-product behind him; three goals and three assists in Ligue 1. In fact, the Morocco international has as many goals and assists in 12 games at Toulouse as he managed in 34 during his final season at AZ Alkmaar.
Leicester City and Southampton like Zakaria Aboukhlal
And, now playing on the right-hand side rather than the left (where he made his name in the Netherlands), Aboukhlal’s new-found ruthlessness was clear to see during September’s 1-0 victory over Reims.
Timing his run perfectly, Aboukhlal latched onto a clever through ball before finishing coolly into the far corner.
According to Calciomercato, two Premier League clubs – Leicester City and Southampton – are already taking note of the 22-year-old’s progress across the Channel. It’s hard to imagine that Aboukhlal would have attracted the interest of any clubs in England’s top flight without making such vast improvements in the final third. Those Leicester and Southampton links are, therefore, a by-product of the impressive strides he’s made on French soil.
Aboukhlal’s winner against Reims was reminiscent of the sort of goal Theo Walcott used to score for Arsenal; drifting from out wide into the centre, showcasing a turn of pace before firing into the bottom corner. The irony, of course, is the former could replace the latter should he end up on the South Coast.
Theo Walcott’s replacement?
Walcott’s contract expires in less than 12 months’ time. He’s played just 17 minutes of football this season. And, after showing an interest in making a move to Reading recently, Walcott is clearly thinking about his next move; the 33-year-old’s second spell at St Mary’s trundling to a rather underwhelming end.
“We were close to getting a deal for Theo Walcott,” Reading boss Paul Ince tells Berkshire Live.
“I spoke to him. We had a good conversation. But he had a year left at Southampton and we couldn’t make the figures work. Which is disappointing because the boy wanted to come.”
Southampton’s recent track record, when signing exciting young talent such as Tino Livramento, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Romeo Lavia, makes for impressive reading. And Aboukhlal, if he can prove this current purple patch is sustainable, looks like another potentially inspired addition.
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