Ayase Ueda could leave Feyenoord this summer, with interest in the Japan striker growing further after his performances at the World Cup, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The transfer specialist reports that approaches have already been made by clubs in the Premier League and the Bundesliga, though the clubs involved have not been named.
Ueda scored twice and added an assist in Japan’s 4-0 win over Tunisia, continuing a tremendous campaign that saw him finish as the Eredivisie’s top scorer with 25 league goals.
Everton have been tracking Ueda for several weeks, with the Feyenoord forward being consistently identified as a leading option for David Moyes’ search for a new first-choice number nine.
What this means for Everton’s pursuit
Romano’s update doesn’t confirm Everton’s involvement directly, but it does confirm the central story that Read Everton has been tracking since the story first emerged: Ueda’s stock is rising in real time, and a strong World Cup will only accelerate it.
We explained who exactly Ueda is and why Moyes wants him when his name first gathered momentum, and more recently detailed the price gap between Everton’s £18m-£20m valuation and Feyenoord’s £30m-£35m asking price.
Bundesliga interest now entering the picture only adds to the competition Everton already faced from Brighton and Leeds. Whether Everton can move before Ueda’s value climbs any further may define how this one plays out.
