Everton winning a three-horse Premier League race to sign Celtic midfielder Oliver Ntcham during the summer transfer window is ‘not beyond the realms of possibility’, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The Blues were touted as potential suitors for Ntcham over the weekend by 90min, who claim we, along with West Ham United and Southampton, are heading up the Premier League interest emerging for the 24-year-old Frenchman.
Ntcham joined Celtic in 2017 under the leadership of Leicester City head coach Brendan Rodgers, and has amassed 125 appearances for the Scottish Premiership champions across all competitions.
Over that time, the former U21 international has struck 23 goals and penned 11 assists, leading to Southampton feeling Ntcham could follow the footsteps of Virgil van Dijk by leaving Parkhead and making a successful switch to the English south coast.
The Saints are looking for reinforcements in the middle of the field after selling Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Tottenham Hotspur for around £25million last week, and could acquire Ntcham for close to £5m less than they sold their former captain for.
A valuation of £20m could appeal greatly to Everton and West Ham should either side look to move ahead of Southampton in the race for Ntcham’s signature, while the central midfielder is keen to have another crack at the Premier League after failing to make the grade with Manchester City.
Ntcham never made a competitive outing for the Sky Blues first-team before heading north of the border, where he has won three Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups, three Scottish League Cups and played in 34 senior European fixtures.
The 24-year-old may yet be given his crack at the Premier League with Everton, after the Liverpool Echo stated a move is not out of the question.
Would you spend £20m to sign Ntcham?
Yes
No
Ntcham has already made two outings in the 2020/21 Scottish Premiership season, but was only given a total of 15 minutes on the field as a late substitute against Hamilton and Kilmarnock.
The former France youth international, who competed at the European Under 21s tournament in 2019, featured more often last term when he made a total of 38 outings across all competitions for a combined 2,251 minutes on the field.
Of those outings, 23 came in the Premiership on route to the title, in which he started 17, scored four goals and penned two assists. Ntcham also scored against SS Lazio in the Europa League Group Stage and assisted the third goal in a 3-1 win over Stade Rennais.