Everton are reportedly joining the race for Tottenham target Matthijs de Ligt.
Everton are set for a big summer with new manager Marco Silva and new director of football Marcel Brands at the helm, and one report suggested two major targets are wanted.
The Toffees have yet to bring in a new signing this summer, but The Telegraph claims that Everton are interested in ambitious moves to sign Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt and free agent winger Gelson Martins, who is available after a controversial exit from Sporting.
Whilst Martins will be familiar to Silva from their time together at Sporting, Brands’ knowledge of Dutch football appears to be driving the interest in De Ligt, who is one of top teenagers in the world.
De Ligt has come up through the famed ranks of Ajax, and the 18-year-old centre back has now made 60 first-team appearances as well as earned seven caps for the Netherlands already.
Many expect De Ligt to move on this summer, but Everton would be a shock move – and Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur shouldn’t be worried about missing out to the Toffees.
The London Evening Standard recently reported that £50million-rated De Ligt is Tottenham’s top target to succeed Toby Alderweireld, and they hope their strong relationship with Ajax can swing the balance in their favour.
Spurs have signed Jan Vertonghen, Christian Eriksen and Davinson Sanchez from the Amsterdam giants in the last five years, potentially making a move to Tottenham appealing – whereas ex-Ajax captain Davy Klaassen has seen his career completely derailed since joining Everton.
That may be a concern for De Ligt, and with Tottenham also having Champions League football to offer whilst Everton aren’t even in Europe, Spurs shouldn’t be worried about the Toffees potentially entering the race for De Ligt – but must move quickly themselves to avoid any nasty shocks.
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