Toffees impressed by displays of on-loan West Brom winger.
Check in to Stoke City vs West Bromwich Albion
Everton could be set to compete with West Brom for the signing of Morgan Amalfitano, as the permanent future of the on-loan Marseille winger remains up in the air, CaughtOffside understands.
The French attacker has been in eye-catching form for the Baggies so far this season after moving to the Hawthorns on a season-long loan in the summer, and manager Steve Clarke is understandably keen to keep the 28-year-old on a permanent basis beyond this year.
Amalfitano endeared himself to the West Brom fans with a superb solo goal in their surprise 2-1 win against Premier League champions Manchester United at Old Trafford, and has also got himself onto the radar of several other sides in the process.
Marseille have supposedly said he could be available on a permanent transfer for as little as £4m, though it is unclear if West Brom have first refusal on the player having signed him for this season, or if that applies to all interested parties, which it has now emerged also includes another Premier League side in Everton.
Toffees manager Roberto Martinez strengthened his side well during the summer transfer window, signing the likes of James McCarthy as well as bringing in two strong loan additions of his own in Romelu Lukaku and Gareth Barry, and the former Wigan boss is keen to continue adding to his squad.
Amalfitano could be a useful option for Everton on either flank and would certainly suit the technical and attack-minded style of play adopted by Martinez, who would certainly see him as something of a bargain at just £4m.
However, both West Brom and Everton could face competition from several Italian sides for Amalfitano, who is said to be attracting interest from Roma, managed by his fellow Frenchman Rudi Garcia, and even champions Juventus.
Amalfitano has previously hinted that he would be open to a permanent move to West Brom, though he may feel a potential switch to Everton would be a more attractive proposal in terms of staying in the Premier League, as the Merseyside club look like one of the teams closest to competing with the league’s big boys and breaking into the European places.
The former Sedan winger had spent two seasons with Marseille, contributing 3 goals and 16 assists in that time, though his improvement in form this season doesn’t seem to be leading to any possibility of the Ligue 1 outfit keeping him on at the club.