Liverpool and Arsenal have both been linked with a move for the German international and Schalke 04 midfielder Lewis Holtby; however Everton may be in the driving seat in a pursuit for the 22-year-old talent.
Just like Harry Kewell or Ryan Giggs before him German international Lewis Holtby looks like becoming one of those players that England will regret not paying more attention to when he was a youngster. The 22-year-old midfielder was eligible to play for England as his father is a Liverpudlian but any potential in that scenario coming to fruition ended in June last year when he faced Azerbaijan in Euro 2012 qualifying.
However this does not mean we won’t be given the privilege of seeing him play on a regular basis as he looks increasingly likely to make the switch to the Premier League next season, or perhaps as early as January.
The talented midfielder is nicknamed ‘Lucky Lewis’ in reference to his career path so far, and as some German fans jocularly suggest for being eligible for Germany and not the perceived technically inferior English national team. Why so lucky? At the age of 14 he was released by Borussia Monchengladbach for being too slow and small and he moved to Alemmania Aachen. From here he was snapped up by Schalke 04 and enjoyed a brilliant loan-spell at overachieving Mainz 05 in 2010-11.
As a brilliant passer of the ball and an exquisitely talented technical operator the obvious links with Arsenal and Liverpool were always going to arise. Teams such as Sevilla, Real Madrid and Valencia have been mentioned as courting from the Iberian Peninsula but there has reportedly been a proposal from a Premier League club already.
His contract runs out in June and talks over a three-year extension have stalled as Holtby appears ready to challenge himself in the Premier League. So could the team in mind be Everton?
Holtby’s father Chris was a British soldier based at RAF Rheindahlen in Germany and was a Everton fan, a trait that was passed on to his son. In fact only a week ago the starlet once again reiterated his love for the Blue side of Merseyside over the Red:
“Everton are close to my heart and I always loved watching Arsenal because of their style of play and some of the players they’ve had.”
Of course players have played for each Merseyside club whilst supporting the other in their childhood. Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher and Leighton Baines can all vouch for this but with the option of Arsenal prevalent it is difficult to see Holtby moving to Liverpool FC.
The former winger has moved into the centre of midfield with aplomb and that kind of positional dexterity would ally himself to David Moyes even more. His natural left-sided ability is also a positive in a side dominated by predominantly right-footed players further up the pitch. Everton have a real chance of beating big name opposition to the signing of one of Europe’s hottest talents and should cash in on his childhood admiration for The Toffees by giving him the chance to swap Schalke’s royal blue for that of his boyhood club.
Could Everton swoop for Lewis Holtby, under the noses of Premier League opposition?
image: © Ben Sutherland
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