Everton targets Koni De Winter for defense reinforcement

Everton is reportedly interested in signing Koni De Winter, a promising player from Genoa, as a potential replacement for Jarrad Branthwaite. The club sees De Winter, who has been compared to football star Vincent Kompany, as a key part of their summer transfer plans. De Winter joined Juventus when he was just 16. However, he did not play for the team and was loaned to Empoli and Genoa, where he has since performed well. The 21-year-old defender made his international debut for Belgium last year and is gaining recognition as a talented player. Reports suggest that Everton's new owners, The Friedkin Group, plan to invest significantly in the club to improve its position in the Premier League. They haven't finished in the top half of the league since the 2020-2021 season. De Winter is seen as a "top target," and Genoa has set a asking price of £25 million for him. Other clubs like Inter Milan, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and several teams from the Bundesliga are also interested in De Winter. Everton is closely monitoring his progress, regardless of whether Branthwaite stays or leaves the club. If Branthwaite does depart, De Winter could strengthen Everton's defense alongside players like James Tarkowski and Jake O'Brien. Everton is also exploring additional options for their summer recruitment as they aim to enhance their team.