Everton’s pursuit of Genk right-back Zakaria El Ouahdi has taken a twist, with reports in the last day naming AS Roma as the club now prioritising a move for the same player.
The complication is obvious. Roma and Everton are both owned by the Friedkin Group (TFG), meaning any transfer battle for the 24-year-old would effectively be an internal one.
Genk are said to want around €15m (£12.7m), a figure both clubs could comfortably meet, but only one of the Friedkins’ clubs can end up with him.
El Ouahdi has been on Everton’s radar since the turn of the year, when the Toffees were credited with advanced talks during the January window before that interest cooled without a move materialising.
The appeal is clear: comfortable at right-back but capable further forward too, with five goal contributions from the position in Belgium last season. With Seamus Coleman gone and Jake O’Brien deputising out of position for long spells, it’s exactly the type of player David Moyes needs.
Crystal Palace have also been credited with interest, along with PSV, adding further competition regardless of how the Roma situation resolves.
For Everton, the Roma link raises an uncomfortable question about how ownership priorities get decided when two clubs under the same group chase the same target.
It’s not clear yet whether that will work in Everton’s favour or against it — but it’s a dynamic worth watching as the summer progresses.
