Everton are reportedly interested in bolstering their front line with a deal for Southampton forward Kamaldeen Sulemana.
With the new season rapidly approaching, the Toffees are exploring options to add the Ghanaian to their squad. The 21 year old played 16 times in the Premier League last season and scored twice. Encouragingly for Blues everywhere, both goals came against Liverpool.
Sulemana only joined Southampton from Ligue 1 side Rennes back in January in a deal worth £25m. Everton were interested at the time but were either unwilling or unable to match the south coast club’s bid.
Discussion around the deal appears to centre on whether the transfer would be a loan or a permanant deal. Sulemana has no release clause and Southampton are reportedly keen to not lose the services of a useful player in their promotion push for no up-front fee.
“Basically unstoppable”
With winger Dwight McNeil set for a potentially lengthy spell on the sidelines, a deal for Sulemana would offer something different in attack for Sean Dyche. Predominantly right footed, he is a terrifying force with the ball at his feet. Indeed, the young Ghanaian ranks in the top 1% of wingers in Europe for take-ons per 90 and is also highly rated for interceptions per 90.
Didier Drami, who coached Sulemana as a youth was quoted at the time of his transfer to Southamption praising the player’s skill and directness: “His strength is coming inside as a wide player. He is very dynamic in his movement, very unpredictable where he wants to go with either foot. When he is in space, he is basically unstoppable in one-on-one situations.”
To capture a player with pace, creativity and directness would put a completely new light on the Everton forward line. Should the Toffees be able to complete the capture, along with that of Arnaud Danjuma and the mooted capture of Youssef Chermiti, it would represent an almost perfect summer of forward recruitment.