View: Everton surely get encouragement to sign defender after report in last 48 hours

Zakaria El Ouahdi has become a concrete target for Newcastle United amid interest from Everton in the Genk right-back.

According to Walfoot on 15 April, the Jupiler Pro League outfit will have a tough time holding onto the defender as the race to sign him heats up.

The news outlet reports that while the Toffees have been linked with the 24-year-old Morocco international, a move to St James’ Park seems like a real possibility.

Fans in L3 will hope the Magpies’ pursuit of El Ouahdi will give the Blues fresh encouragement to pursue their target and get a deal over the line in the summer.

The Friedkin Group must back David Moyes financially at the end of the season and build a competitive squad to progress further in the coming months.

Everton have edge over Newcastle United in Zakaria El Ouahdi chase

Moyes has turned things around at the Toffees since taking over from Sean Dyche and is now competing for a European spot in the Premier League.

The Scottish manager has his team one point behind sixth-place Chelsea in the table with six games to go in the league.

Newcastle have had a mixed campaign so far and find themselves in 14th and it doesn’t look like they’ll be playing in Europe next season.

If the Merseyside outfit manage to get into the Europa League, they’ll certainly be a better prospect for El Ouahdi over the Magpies, where Eddie Howe’s future seems uncertain.

David Moyes transfer priority obvious at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Jake O’Brien has been the Everton right-back for several months now, but the Republic of Ireland international has been forced to play out of position.

Seamus Coleman’s contract at the Toffees expires at the end of the season and the 37-year-old’s persistent fitness issues make him an unreliable option.

Moyes doesn’t seem to trust Nathan Patterson, with Adam Aznou in a similar boat, leaving Vitalii Mykolenko to shoulder the burden at left-back.

The Merseyside outfit should make reinforcing the defence their top priority in the summer and El Ouahdi appears to be the perfect player to bring flair to their backline.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Goodison Park.

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