Why Everton should sign Jean-Kevin Augustin from RB Leipzig
According to a report in Bristol Live, Merseyside club Everton have been linked with a move for RB Leipzig striker Jean-Kevin Augustin. The Toffees are keeping close tabs on the progress of the player, who was once a part of the Paris-Saint Germain squad.
As per the report, the 21-year-old would cost £20-25m in the transfer market. Everton have been a heavy-spending club in the last 18 months or so, hence, buying a player for this fee shouldn’t be a grave problem for them.
Here’s why they should sign the French U21 international striker sooner than later:
The Toffees’ need for a number nine
Everton have made a decent start to life under Marco Silva. They are currently 8th in the table and look like a proper package from back to front. However, the toe end of that package still needs improvement. The Toffees lack a proper goal-scoring centre-forward, a position for which they have tried to buy reinforcements in the past but to no avail.
Cenk Tosun was bought in the January transfer window, but the Turkish international hasn’t been great. Oumar Niasse and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are the other options but no one can even get close to what Romelu Lukaku used to do at Goodison Park week in week out.
As a result, the Merseyside-based club have just scored 24 goals from 17 league games, which is a low number considering that all of the top five clubs in the table have netted 30+ goals. Hence, if the Toffees are to challenge for a top six finish, or even break the top-four hurdle, it is clear they need more goals.
Jean-Kevin Augustin might just be the solution to this perennial problem. The French U21 striker is a fantastic player who can play as a striker or operate on either wing if required. He possesses the raw pace to make runs in behind a defensive line, and be a lethal prospect from counter-attacks. He can dribble past defenders in a flash to open up space for a shot or a pass towards the goal.
The 21-year-old’s shooting technique isn’t bad either, making him a complete striker with the potential to become a star in the near-future.
Everton could do with a rapid forward like him in their squad. At his age, the player still has got a lot to learn, and a manager like Marco Silva would be perfect for his development.