Everton and Fulham are reportedly interested in signing 18-year-old Croatian striker Anton Matkovic, who has drawn comparisons to Mario Mandzukic.
According to a report by Italian outlet Sport Italia, Anton Matkovic might be the next highly-rated prospect to join a well-known club. Premier League outfits Everton and Fulham are vying for the signature of the 18-year-old NK Osijek striker, who has drawn comparisons with Mario Mandzukic.
Who is Anton Matkovic?
Croatia has seen the rise of many top-class players in recent years. Luka Modric has led the upturn in the fortunes of his national side, with several young prospects now enjoying their advent. The last 12 months have seen many prodigies getting linked with high-profile clubs, including Luka Vuskovic and Roko Simic.
Anton Matkovic has now risen in prominence due to his exploits for NK Osijek. A native of Slavonski Brod, he has spent his formative years in his homeland. He has been with NK Osijek since August 2022 and has come leaps and bounds in the last two years. The 18-year-old has already made his debut for the Croatian outfit, turning out 15 times while scoring twice.
The youngster’s exploits have helped him draw comparisons to Mario Mandzukic, a legend for the Croatian national side. Meanwhile, Matkovic’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several Serie A heavyweights. Meanwhile, Premier League clubs Everton and Fulham are also interested in him.
Premier League calling?
Everton’s interest in Anton Matkovic is surprising. The Toffees signed Youssef Chermiti from Sporting CP last summer, with the Portuguese prospect being an option for the future. In addition, Beto is at the peak of his powers, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin has shown signs of improvement. So, Everton can do without a new striker this summer.
As for Fulham, they have felt the absence of Aleksandar Mitrovic since he departed from Craven Cottage last summer. While Rodrigo Muniz has stepped up, Marco Silva can do with another option in the offensive department. The Cottagers have also shown interest in other strikers, including Fotis Ioannidis. But Matkovic is also a viable target.
While Everton and Fulham are attractive destinations, clubs with higher profile than them are also interested in him. So, it will be interesting to see if the Premier League clubs win the race to secure the services of the “next Mandzukic” in the summer transfer window.
