Everton have approached the agent of Arsenal target Denis Zakaria to express their interest in a free transfer of the Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder in 2022, according to 90min.
Die Fohlen confirmed on Wednesday that Zakaria had informed the Bundesliga outfit of his decision to leave next year. The Swiss international is out of contract at the end of the term and believes it is time to leave Borussia-Park after five seasons in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Zakaria has attracted significant interest from around Europe ahead of him becoming a free agent in June. He can also begin to negotiate pre-contracts from January ahead of his exit.
Arsenal remain keen on a transfer for Zakaria once his Borussia Monchengladbach contract ends. The Mirror had reported in July that Mikel Arteta deemed him an ideal replacement for Granit Xhaka. While Fussball Transfers noted they held fresh talks with his agent this month.
But Everton are eager to rival Arsenal for Zakaria with the 25-year-old now leaving Borussia Monchengladbach on a free transfer. Leicester City have also joined the Blues by informing the £51k-a-week star’s agent of their interest in a potential move.
Zakaria race hotting up as Everton express transfer interest in Arsenal target
Leicester are one of many possible Premier League suitors alongside Arsenal and Everton in the race to sign Zakaria, however. Calciomercato noted earlier this month that the Toffees were battling West Ham, Liverpool, plus Serie A duo Juventus and Roma.
Zakaria is bound to attract offers from multiple clubs in the coming months now Borussia Monchengladbach have confirmed his departure. The midfielder is a mainstay of the unit in North Rhine-Westphalia with 15 Bundesliga games this term, plus two goals and one assist.
His box-to-box performances have not been enough for Die Fohlen to avoid a poor season so far, though. They sit just 14th and are only three-points clear of the relegation zone.
Adi Hutter has been unable to pick up from where Marco Rose left last term. The now-Borussia Dortmund boss was also full of praise for Zakaria during his time in charge.
“He is a very complete footballer who still has a lot of development potential,” Rose told Sky Germany last year. “He has incredible dynamics, an understanding of the game and is not yet at the end of his development.”
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