Roberto Martinez believes Charles De Ketelaere is a player with “exceptional” talent amid reported interest from Premier League trio Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and West Ham United, speaking to Het Laaste Nieuws.
With Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens, Kevin De Bruyne and Nacer Chadli all aged 30 or above, the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ of Belgian football is starting to lose a bit of its sparkle.
Fortunately, the Rote Duivels have a couple of highly talented youngsters rising through the ranks, waiting to succeed their veteran compatriots. Jeremy Doku is just 19, Yari Verschaeren 20 and AC Milan’s Alexis Saelemaekers 22.
De Ketelaere, meanwhile, was just seven years old the last time Tottenham Hotspur players felt the cool sheen of silver against their skin, he’s a decade younger than Hazard and De Bruyne.
The baby-faced Club Brugge winger could soon follow in De Bruyne’s footsteps with a move to the Premier League too. Calciomercato reports Everton and West Ham United have been joined by Antonio Conte’s Spurs in the battle to secure his sought-after signature.
Can Everton afford Charles De Ketelaere?
“First of all, I don’t look at the football player Charles De Ketelaere but at the human being,” said Martinez, the former Everton manager who was linked with the Tottenham job before the doomed appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo in July.
“I see someone who is already very experienced, who is comfortable in his own skin. Really impressive. He is a great player who can easily find space and play with his back to goal.
“His greatest qualities are turning away and playing forward. In addition, he is very good with both feet. We shouldn’t want to pin Charles to one position too quickly.
“With us, he is better with a number nine in front of him but in specific matches he can definitely play as a striker.”
De Ketelaere capped his first senior call-up with an impudent nutmeg finish past Gigi Donnarumma during Belgium’s Nations League third-place play-off with Italy in October.
“He reads the game in an exceptional way,” adds Martinez. “I haven’t seen many Belgian players who could do what he does at that age. I hope he can make further steps in the next two games.”
It’s believed Brugge want £34 million for De Ketelaere, a fee that may put Everton out of the running.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
