Everton’s patient approach to strengthening at right-back may come with an unexpected cost, with sister club Roma emerging as suitors for one of the position’s more affordable options.
As ReadEverton reported this week, Everton have made Rico Lewis their priority target and are prepared to wait out Man City for the right terms.
Genk’s Zakaria El Ouahdi has long sat as the value alternative — but Roma are now exploring a move of their own, and Roma and Everton share the same owners in The Friedkin Group.
That overlap complicates things. Any internal competition for the same player raises awkward questions about which club takes priority and gives Everton less room to simply wait on El Ouahdi in the way they can with a direct market rival.
The numbers explain their interest. El Ouahdi managed eight goals and four assists in 34 league games for Genk last season, and his reputation as an attacking outlet from right-back — closer to an extra winger than a conventional full-back — has been building steadily.
Genk’s asking price sits at around €15m (£12.8m), with his valuation now put closer to €17m (£14.5m) given the growing competition.
Crystal Palace remain in the picture too, adding a third party to a race that was already tightening before Roma’s interest came to light.
Moyes needs a right-back in place before the new season begins in a month. If Lewis takes longer to negotiate than expected, El Ouahdi was the fallback plan — Roma’s involvement now threatens to remove that option from the table.
Patience has served Everton well so far this window. This is the first sign it might not be cost-free. And will test the patience of Evertonians.
