Axel Witsel – the 27-year-old Belgian international is a wanted man this summer.
At the European Championships in France this summer, his performances have made him a target for clubs in the Premier League and in Serie A.
Witsel has already made it clear that he wants to leave Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg and is looking for a lucrative move to a top club.
The player himself expressed in an interview with Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport last month that he was determined to leave Zenit and play for a club in either Italy or England, saying: “I want to try a new experience in a different League, a new challenge.
“I hope to step up a level and play in a big European club. My future could be in Italy or in England. It doesn’t matter if I go to Serie A or the Premier League, as long as it’s a big club.”
Everton, with their reported £100m transfer fund, want to make the Belgian their best paid player ever and smash their own transfer record by offering him£120,000-per-week on a £30m transfer.
Thierry Witsel, Axel’s father, confirmed to Italian radio station CRC that he met with Napoli and they appear to be an attractive prospect to his son, but Everton have also registered “concrete” interest.
So what is it that the teams around Europe like so much?
Witsel began his career at Standard Liege, with whom he picked up his first Belgium cap at just 19-years-old, before moving to Benfica for the 2011-12 season.
He signed for Zenit for £34m in 2012, signing a five-year contract, and thrived under former manager Andre Villas-Boas.
A regular fixture for Belgium at this summer’s European Championship, the 27-year-old is a strong, technically adept central midfielder capable of dominating the middle of the park. He is a strong no nonsense midfielder and is known to be a tough opponent.
Standing at 6ft 1in, but able to cover ground quickly, Witsel’s movement is good with an eye for goal. He was named Belgian Young footballer of the year in 2007/08 and then took the Belgian Golden Shoe in 2008, an award given by pundits and the media for the best young first division player.
His star has been on the rise since then and only a year ago, Chelsea and AC Milan were reportedly enquiring about him.
Everton appear favourites this summer, but if he is looking for a big club then while the club gravitate towards that ambition, they are not there yet and there would be no European football next season.
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