Anderlecht’s teen sensation Youri Tielemans could be edging closer to a £22m Everton move as chairman Bill Kenwright talks to his agent.
With Bill Kenwright’s ties to Everton Football Club stemming back to 1989, he was never going to walk away once billionaire steel magnate Farhad Moshiri became the club’s new majority shareholder last year.
And, according to the Liverpool Echo, the long-serving chairman is still playing an essential role in the club’s transfer strategy behind the scenes.
The report claims that Kenwright is utilising his connections in Belgium to force through a deal for Anderlecht wonderkid Youri Tielemans. The 71-year-old is now understood to be in talks with the midfielder’s agent, Christophe Henrotay, as Everton aim to secure one of the most exciting transfer coups in their history.
Tielemans, after all, is one of the most highly-rated young prospects in world football. Despite being a month away from his 20th birthday, the Belgian has played far more than 150 career games since making his debut at the tender age of 16.
And the dynamic teenager has taken his game to a new level this season, netting a remarkable 18 goals in 45 games in all competitions. Its statistics like this that make his £22 million asking price, as reported by the Liverpool Echo, look like a potential bargain.
Understandably, Everton are not short of competition. The Daily Mail reported in February that Tottenham sent scouts to watch Tielemans in the Europa League as Anderlecht impressively reached the quarter-finals before being knocked out by Manchester United.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino is renowned for turning potential into world-class talent and Tielemans, a forward-thinking and explosive central midfielder, appears a natural fit for his high-tempo midfield.
Yet, with Kenwright laying the foundations, Everton fans can dream big. Signing Tielemans could well be a watershed moment for a club with ambitions of breaking into the elite circle.
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