Everton are ready to compete with West Ham United for free agent Adnan Januzaj, who is keeping himself fit and contemplating a potential transfer.
According to AS, Adnan Januzaj could be a potential target for Everton, who will have to compete with West Ham for the former Real Sociedad winger. The Belgian international has been without a club since leaving the San Sebastian outfit and is considered one of the attractive Bosman prospects.
Adnan Januzaj was primed for a bug career after he broke into the Manchester United team under David Moyes. However, his trajectory took a downward curve, but in the last four years, the Belgian has found his rhythm with Real Sociedad.
The Belgian international featured 166 times for Sociedad in the four years, scoring 23 times and assisting a further 21 times in all competitions. So it was a bit of a surprise when he decided to sever ties with the Spanish side in the hope of playing for a more significant team.
There were talks after January about a potential move to Xavi’s Barcelona. However, with the Catalan side signing Raphinha and renewing Ousmane Dembele’s deal, there’s no vacancy at Camp Nou. A return to the Premier League could be on the cards, as English clubs continue to monitor his situation.
Given that any interested side are now in the middle of their respective pre-season campaigns, gaining fitness ahead of the new season, Januzaj is working hard at a high-performance centre in Marbella. Everton and West Ham are seemingly keen on the winger, with both sides ready to explore the opportunity in the coming days.
Other teams from Italy and Spain are keen on the Belgian, but a return to the Premier League could become a tempting prospect. Everton have been in the market to find a replacement for Richarlison, with Frank Lampard keen to address his side’s attacking deficiency.
They have been somewhat sub-par in their pre-season games so far, losing to Arsenal in Baltimore. The need to bring in an experienced player with flair is on Lampard’s mind, and Januzaj could become the cost-effective signing that the Toffees crave.
Meanwhile, West Ham are actively searching for a wide attacker, preferably for the right side. Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe is among the targets, while Rennes star Martin Terrier’s name also gets a mention. David Moyes is keen on a new winger to shore up his frontline and provide quality backup to Jarrod Bowen.
The Hammers have made a few signings in this window and could be tempted by Januzaj’s availability on a Bosman deal. The winger has considerable experience, and at 27, he represents a fairly good acquisition for the next few seasons. Everton and West Ham could be in the middle of a transfer battle for Januzaj, with the winger expected to evaluate the options his new agents present in front of him.
Both Premier League sides could be a good place, to begin with, as Januzaj will be eager to conclude his unfinished business in England. The Belgian is certainly one of the more attractive prospects available in the Bosman market, and a decision on his future could be made imminently.
