Everton show interest in Lille forward Martin Terrier
By Gary Pearson
A new name has appeared on Everton’s transfer rumour radar, as Lille forward Martin Terrier is reportedly being linked with a potential move to Merseyside.
French online publication Foot Mercato has reported that Everton scouts have been in attendance at least three times to take a look at the 19-year-old forward.
Terrier hasn’t scored a goal in seven appearances thus far this season. His numbers aren’t particularly impressive, which leads me to think that he’s a player Ronald Koeman believes has boundless potential.
Alongside Ademola Lookman, Tom Davies, Mason Holgate, Koeman probably feels that he can help the Frenchman develop and progress quickly, and in the right way to be a successful Premier League player.
Koeman has showed how much he values youth and is forming a corps of energetic whippersnappers that could one day lead the Toffees to Premier League glory, akin to how Alex Ferguson gave his younger players a chance in the early 1990s. We all know how the next decade panned out for them.
Koeman can only hope his project at Everton one day enjoys a semblance of that United team’s success. But he’s on the right track.
The report suggests the scouts watched Terrier in December when Lille played PSG in a cup match. There isn’t more to the rumours at the moment, but the early chat is credible. Whether it will amount to anything more substantial remains to be seen but Koeman has made Everton’s intentions of acquiring another forward clear .
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West Ham are also reported to be interested in the young French striker, who has been connected with Lille since he was six years old. Terrier has come up through the ranks with the French side but may be enticed by the chance to learn from Koeman, Romelu Lukaku and company.