Everton are interested in Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa but face competition from Valencia for his services.
According to Italian publication TuttoMercatoWeb, Premier League side, Everton have thrown their name into the hat for Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.
The Cameroonian joined the Cottagers from Marseille in 2018, making 63 appearances for them since. The 25-year-old spent the 2019/20 campaign on loan at Villarreal as Fulham won promotion to the Premier League. He returned to Craven Cottage for the 2020/21 campaign and was a regular fixture in their league games, missing just two all season.
While his performances for Fulham paled in comparison to what he showed at Villarreal, he was still amongst Scott Parker’s best performers. Ultimately it was not enough, and they were relegated to the Championship. The player, however, could return to the top flight provided Everton have their way.
The Toffees, now managed by Rafael Benitez, have entered the race for the player and are ready to challenge Valencia for his signature. The Spanish giants have already made a move for the midfielder but have been rebuffed by Fulham. Having experienced the taste of top-flight football, the 25-year-old may not be keen to take a step down in the upcoming campaign and could be on the move this summer.
Former Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti was an admirer of the player and was linked with him earlier this summer. The Italian manager may not be in charge anymore, but the club remains keen on landing him. A defensive midfielder, he would be an upgrade over Toffees star Andre Gomes. Not only is he more athletic and a better offensive contributor than the Portuguese, but also a force to contend with in the air.
He has also put up better numbers than other Toffees midfielders, namely, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Allan and Tom Davies. This is especially true when it comes to the ability in the air.
His presence in the middle of the park could help Everton recover possession and stop the opposition from winning aerial balls. He is athletic, good in the air, and with the ball at his feet. Add to it his ability to play a through pass and bringing the ball out from the back, he could help connect the attack to the defence, adding something new to the Everton midfield.
Anguissa is valued at €25 million and could prove to be an excellent under-the-radar signing who is effective on the field. While he may have been with Fulham for the last three years, he has prior top-flight experience with Marseille, not to mention the impressive solo season on loan at Villarreal. He outperformed veteran midfielder Vincent Iborra at El Madrigal and showed the ability to thrive in a side capable of competing in Europe.
If his numbers in a struggling Fulham side are impressive, surrounding himself with better players at Everton will help him develop further. Benitez has managed some of the best midfielders in the world during his long and storied managerial career. Whether Anguissa will join the list of those who the Spaniard helped improve remains to be seen.
