Everton are reportedly closing in on the signature of Dynamo Moscow midfielder Arsen Zakharyan, with Rafael Benitez keen to add further reinforcements to his first team squad.

What’s the story?

According to Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb (as relayed by the Liverpool ECHO), the Toffees are ‘pressing hard’ to secure the signature of the highly-rated 18-year-old.

The report added that there is an ongoing ‘strong attempt’ from the Merseysiders to strike a deal with the Russian club, and contact is said to be ‘proceeding quickly’. Dynamo are set to demand €10m (£8.4m) for their prized asset, so a January move for Zakharyan could be on the cards for Everton.

Everton could secure Benitez’s next Hamsik

If Toffees director of football Marcel Brands is able to lure Zakharyan to Goodison Park over the coming months, he could secure Benitez his next Marek Hamsik. The Slovakian playmaker prospered under the Spaniard’s tutelage during their time together at Napoli, with 45 goal contributions in 95 appearances, and the Spaniard and Russian could strike up a formidable partnership on Merseyside.

After making his first team debut for Dynamo back in 2020, Zakharyan has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting talents to come out of Russia in recent years. In just 13 Premier Liga appearances last season, the creative talent scored three goals and provided a further five assists, earning a call up to his national team’s senior setup before going on to feature in four World Cup qualifiers.

The youngster was described as having “exciting potential” by journalist Ben Bocsak after putting in a string of standout displays for his hometown club, and Zakharyan has taken his game to new heights this term.

In just 15 appearances for Dynamo throughout 2021/22, the teenager has already notched up three goals and a whopping seven assists, playing a crucial role in their rise to second place in the top-flight table.

With James Rodriguez’s late departure for Qatari club Al-Rayyan leaving a creative void in the final third of the pitch for Everton, Zakharyan could be the ideal solution to their attacking woes, and everyone associated with the Blues will surely be eagerly anticipating the 18-year-old’s potential arrival at Goodison Park.

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