Everton could take a transfer chance on young star who plays like £50m Real Madrid man Dean Huijsen
Everton have been linked with a potential transfer move for Nantes centre-back Nathan Zeze
Everton have been linked with a move for Nantes centre-back Nathan Zeze, but what could the teenage sensation potentially bring to the side? A report from TEAMtalk states that the Blues are considering a move for Zeze as David Moyes looks to add to his defensive options, while young Rangers goalkeeper Rydnn McGuire is also on their radar.
While the article states that a new centre-back is a priority for Everton because Michael Keane will leave when his current contract expires this summer, the ECHO understands that the 32-year-old is still considering his options with the possibility of continuing at the Blues for a ninth season not being ruled out.
But there also being more lucrative and longer-term offers on the table for Keane from newly-promoted clubs with one being dependent on the result of Saturday’s Championship play-off final.
Zeze, who has reputedly attracted attention from a host of Premier League clubs, doesn’t turn 20 until the summer having been born in Nantes on June 18, 2005.
Having come up through the ranks at his home city club, the left-footed 6ft 3in prospect, who has been capped by France at Under-17, U18 and U21 levels but is also eligible for Ivory Coast, has made 35 first team appearances, including 18 in Ligue 1 this season, scoring once, in a cup tie at fifth tier Jeanne d’Arc de Drancy.
In terms of Zeze’s playing style, Comparisonator’s Similarity tool calculates Crystal Palace’s fellow Frenchman Maxence Lacroix as being the closest Premier League star to him with an 88% match. Next up is Ipswich Town’s Jacob Greaves at 82% who, while still with Hull City, was linked with a potential move to Everton last summer before the Blues signed Jake O’Brien, while Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, who has just agreed a transfer to Real Madrid after they triggered his £50million release clause, is deemed a 69% match.
Comparisonator’s Virtual Transfer tool also enables us to correlate Zeze’s statistics from Ligue 1 this season against Premier League players in his position. His youthful vigour seems to bring plenty of energy as he covers more ground than any centre-back in the English top flight with an average of 10.642km per game.
In contrast, Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol (10.215km) is the Premier League leader, followed by Brentford pair Nathan Collins (10.036km) and Sepp van den Berg (10.034km). For context, James Tarkowski led the way for Everton in 20th spot with 9.273km.
When it comes to clearances, only West Ham United’s Max Kilman (4.65) can top Zeze’s 4.56 per 90 minutes, ahead of Ipswich Town’s Dara O’Shea (4.29) and Nottingham Forest’s Murillo (4.26), with Tarkowski again the Blues’ best on 3.97. However, his 5.5 interceptions would only place him 14th behind Premier League leader Murillo on 7.2 and sixth-placed Tarkowski on 6.33.
Zee ranks even lower for picking-ups (of loose balls) and with an average of 1.89, that doesn’t appear to be a major part of his game yet, with Tarkowski on 3.09, just behind the Premier League’s leading trio of Newcastle United’s Dan Burn (3.28); Manchester United’s Harry Maguire (3.24) and Southampton’s Jan Bednarek (3.17).
Given the way French centre-backs are known for their distribution skills, it is also curious to see that his average of 41.61 successful passes, is little over half of Ruben Dias of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League charts (76.54), but it is still more than Everton leader Jarrad Branthwaite (32.52).
Zeze appears to have significant potential, and Moyes’ parting gift for the Blues first time around was signing John Stones from Barnsley at a similar age.
However, with funds having to prioritised elsewhere for players who are likely to be first team regulars from the start, the chances of landing him this summer may depend on what happens with Keane and Everton’s other current centre-back options.
*Comparisonator is a football data comparison tool from 271 professional leagues around the world which compares players and clubs by utilising over 100 different parameters. Click here for more details.