Transfer Centre

Everton 'in pole position to sign Axel Witsel'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 05 July 2016

An intermediary for Axel Witsel claims that the player has rejected an offer from Napoli and that Everton are now in pole position to sign the Belgium international.

Everton are reportedly leading the race to sign Axel Witsel from Zenit St Petersburg this summer.

The Toffees are thought to have put in a £28.5m bid for the Belgium international, but face competition for his signature from Napoli.

However, Francesco Marseglia, an intermediary for the player, has revealed that Witsel has rejected an offer from the Serie A outfit and is now deciding whether to move to Everton or wait for a "bigger club".

"Axel is currently further away from Napoli. The offer wasn't really given a lot of consideration. Everton might even go above €4m (£3.4m) net in salary," Marseglia told Radio Crc.

"If you look at the financial aspect, that's the right move, but in terms of career I'd choose Napoli every time, even putting the Champions League to one side. Napoli are an ambitious club, they're growing every year, always taking more important players. Everton don't seem like a great team.

"I don't know exactly what the situation is, in my opinion he wants to take his time because he's not yet convinced about what to do. He can either accept the English club or wait for an even bigger club."

New Everton boss Ronald Koeman is understood to have made signing Witsel his priority in this summer's transfer window.