wolf277
Player Valuation: £5m
EXCLUSIVE
By Steven Saunders & Kris Voakes
Everton are poised to make a move to sign highly-rated Torino defender Angelo Ogbonna.
Goal.com can reveal that manager David Moyes was in Turin on Saturday afternoon to watch the Serie B clash between Torino and Vicenza.
Ogbonna, an Italian under-21 international, has previously been linked with Arsenal and Manchester City - Arsene Wenger in particular is a known admirer - but Moyes appears to now be leading the chase and for the Torino centre-back, who impressed in a 1-0 victory.
Left-footed, nippy, powerful presence
Italian born to Nigerian parents, Ogbonna made his debut for Torino in February 2007, aged 18. A physical centre-back who can also play on the left of defence, he is strong in the air and quick over the ground. He has five caps for Italy's under-21s, having debuted against Russia last August.
It appears Moyes has targeted the 21-year-old as he looks to strengthen his side and build on Everton's eighth-placed finish in the Premier League this season. The manager recently claimed that he feels his side can emulate Tottenham and qualify for the Champions League in the near future.
"I think we are similar to Tottenham in a lot of ways, I think we have got a good team," said Moyes.
"We have always said we need to try to break the monopoly of the top four. Until this year Everton were the only team to have broken into it. But I think you will find next year there will be a top eight.
"I think a lot of the teams below the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal have tried to get closer - Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester City have all had good seasons.
"We have got the potential to be there as well and I think it will be much harder for people to say who will finish where."
BASICS
Age 21
Position CB/LB
Club Torino
International Italy U21
Contract 2011
SEASON STATS
Appearances (sub) 21
Goals 1
Yellow Cards 4
Red Cards 0
ANALYSIS
Strength Power
Weakness No top-tier
Current Form best in ‘B’
Estimated Value 4 million
World Cup Place maybe 2014
Well do we rate this rumour?
Do we rate the player?
what does the oracle say?
By Steven Saunders & Kris Voakes
Everton are poised to make a move to sign highly-rated Torino defender Angelo Ogbonna.
Goal.com can reveal that manager David Moyes was in Turin on Saturday afternoon to watch the Serie B clash between Torino and Vicenza.
Ogbonna, an Italian under-21 international, has previously been linked with Arsenal and Manchester City - Arsene Wenger in particular is a known admirer - but Moyes appears to now be leading the chase and for the Torino centre-back, who impressed in a 1-0 victory.
Left-footed, nippy, powerful presence
Italian born to Nigerian parents, Ogbonna made his debut for Torino in February 2007, aged 18. A physical centre-back who can also play on the left of defence, he is strong in the air and quick over the ground. He has five caps for Italy's under-21s, having debuted against Russia last August.
It appears Moyes has targeted the 21-year-old as he looks to strengthen his side and build on Everton's eighth-placed finish in the Premier League this season. The manager recently claimed that he feels his side can emulate Tottenham and qualify for the Champions League in the near future.
"I think we are similar to Tottenham in a lot of ways, I think we have got a good team," said Moyes.
"We have always said we need to try to break the monopoly of the top four. Until this year Everton were the only team to have broken into it. But I think you will find next year there will be a top eight.
"I think a lot of the teams below the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal have tried to get closer - Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester City have all had good seasons.
"We have got the potential to be there as well and I think it will be much harder for people to say who will finish where."
BASICS
Age 21
Position CB/LB
Club Torino
International Italy U21
Contract 2011
SEASON STATS
Appearances (sub) 21
Goals 1
Yellow Cards 4
Red Cards 0
ANALYSIS
Strength Power
Weakness No top-tier
Current Form best in ‘B’
Estimated Value 4 million
World Cup Place maybe 2014
Well do we rate this rumour?
Do we rate the player?
what does the oracle say?
Good lad, much better passtime.
