Everton should rival Newcastle United for the former Ronald Koeman target.
If rumours are to be believed, Newcastle United have made a bid for Sampdoria midfielder Dennis Praet.
The 23-year-old midfielder is, according to Il Secolo XI, a target of the Magpies, a Russian club and Marseille, with a £12.8 million offer being lodged by one of those.
But should Everton boss Ronald Koeman look to hijack Newcastle’s interest in the one-time Belgium international?
According to a report in The Daily Mail from May 2016, Koeman wanted to sign the attacking midfielder for Southampton, but he joined Everton three weeks later.
Praet went on to join Sampdoria from Anderlecht that summer but, by virtue of the fact he scored once and set up one goal in 32 Serie A outings, it’s fair to say that he has not adapted well to life in Italy’s top flight at all.
But the Dutch manager was prepared to spend £10 million on him 15 months ago, as reported by The Mail, so it might suggest that he is a fan and perhaps the Toffees manager might finish at Goodison Park what he started at St Mary’s Stadium and renew his interest.
Praet has been deployed in a number 10 role for the Italian side, but he had impressed on the wing for Anderlecht and managed 10 assists and five goals from the left in 39 games for the Belgian side, according to Transfermarkt.
Everton don’t need someone to play in the hole, given their acquisition of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Ross Barkley’s continued presence on Merseyside for now, but a winger wouldn’t go amiss amid speculation linking Ademola Lookman and Aaron Lennon with moves away.
If Koeman is still interested, then Everton have the pull, the necessity and the money to lure him to Goodison Park ahead of Newcastle this month.
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