Everton have been linked with a move for Blackburn right back Ryan Alebiosu.
ESPN has suggested Everton, along with Wolfsburg, Sassuolo and Genoa are also tracking the 24-year-old Nigerian defender and the suggested fee is a paltry £4m.
There are a few things that may block a potential move. Alebiosu is currently away with Nigeria for the African Cup of Nations and will potentially be there until 18 January if Nigeria reach the final. He has also sustained a cut to his leg that is being assessed by the national side after impressing on his international debut versus Uganda.
Alebiosu, a former Arsenal youth player who actually scored against Everton in an u21 game a few years ago, began his career as a right winger and has only recently moved to a wing back and more defensive right back role.
As a youth player he said: ” I like to dribble past defenders and get crosses and passes into the box or come inside when I need to. I would say I’m a little similar in style to Alex Iwobi when he plays on the wing. I have admired and watched Alex play for years and also when he plays for Nigeria, which is where my parents are from.”
A pacey defender with 20 Championship appearances this season, he has scored once and assisted twice for Blackburn after joining from Belgian side KV Kortrijk in the summer. Before that he has spent time on loan at Scottish sides Kilmarnock and St Mirren.
Blackburn fans have been full of praise for Alebiosu for his performances this season, labelling him one of their better signings of the summer. However, a Premier League move would still represent a meteoric rise for a player who was playing in Belgium’s second division a year ago.
Alebiosu is not the first Championship right back to be linked to Everton. Norwich’s England u21 defender Kellon Fisher was linked in the summer by some unconfirmed sources, while there were also some tentative links to Coventry’s Milan van Ewijk.