UPDATE
Sky Italia reported late on Sunday evening that Witsel will now make his decision between Napoli and Everton, no other clubs in the frame. Decision expected in the next 24 hours. Fee thought to be lower than initially expected, £15million rather than the reported £30million.
Everton have agreed a fee of £30million for Axel Witsel, according to Squawka.
Ronald Koeman is on the search for, and may have found, the ‘marquee signing’ which Farhad Moshiri has been keen to bring in this summer.
It now seems the pair have found their marquee signing after agreeing a fee with Zenit, which would be the most expensive in the club’s history – beating Romelu Lukaku’s £28million move in 2014.
Witsel would demand a wage of over £100,000-a-week, which Everton would be willing to match, also making him the highest earner at the club.
Liverpool and Chelsea have recently been linked to the Belgian, but it seems Napoli were Everton’s biggest contenders for Witsel, before pulling out after hearing his wage demands.
The 27-year-old has hinted at a move, but only to a club in the Champions League. Though, it is understood that Everton have impressed his representatives with a deal now likely. Witsel currently has one year left of his contract with Zenit St. Petersburg so the club may be forced to sell this summer.
Central midfield has been a targeted area for Koeman, with the likes of Kevin Strootman, Mateo Kovacic and Morgan Schneiderlin all linked but it’s now likely Witsel will be the one of the four in blue next season.
Any deal would likely be completed after Euro 2016 as Belgium play Wales tonight in their quarter-final tie.
