Everton boss Ronaldo Koeman is close to adding his Ross Barkley replacement to the squad
Koeman is adamant on signing a replacement for Ross Barkley after the midfielder failed to agree to a new contract. The Everton boss gave Barkley plenty of time to make his decision, ultimately telling him he will be sold this summer. There have not been any serious offer yet, and the rumored £50 million price tag cannot be helping that fact.
While this transfer saga is going on, Koeman has already set his sights on a replacement. Dutch midfielder Davy Klaassen is the man wanted by Koeman, and the deal seems to be nearing completion.
Klaassen plays his football at Ajax, a club that Koeman both played for and coached in his career. At Ajax, Klaassen plays as a central midfielder, setting up teammates and getting a fair share of goals himself. Scoring 14 and assisting nine shows just how vital he is to his team. The way he runs the offense makes him very appealing to Koeman, and the young Dutchman should fit well in Everton’s system.
There are rumors that Klaassen will cost the Blues upwards of £30million. This is a modest price in today’s market for the quality Everton will be getting. At just 24 years old, Klaassen still has plenty of football left ahead of him. He has already broken into the Netherlands senior squad, scoring four goals in his 14 appearances for the Oranje.
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Klaassen will slot right into the vacancy left by Ross Barkley once he does leave the club. With Lukaku on the verge of leaving as well, Koeman will do himself a world of good if he can sign a new striker before the end of the month. Adding two new attackers early in the summer will allow them to create chemistry in the off-season.
The deal for Klaassen will be a big boost for Everton fans and the club overall. It will show Koeman is not sitting around waiting for his players to move on. He is looking to next season and crafting the squad the way he wants it. Finishing in the top four will be a tough ask for Everton next season, but adding Klaassen is a big step in the right direction for the team.