Everton have made extensive enquiries over a deal to sign Moroccan winger Othmane Maamma from Watford, according to a report from L’Equipe.
The 20-year-old has attracted significant attention after a breakthrough season in the Championship, establishing himself as one of the most exciting young wingers in European football.
Maamma developed his game in France, progressing through youth setups at Nimes Gazelec Sportif Gardois and Athletic Club Arlesien before completing his academy education at Montpellier.
He joined Watford last summer and quickly became a mainstay in the squad, impressing consistently throughout his debut campaign in English football.
While his four goals and one assist may appear modest on paper, his underlying statistics rank him among the best young wingers in Europe this season.
His quality on the international stage was emphatically confirmed at last October’s FIFA U20 World Cup, where he won the tournament’s best player award as Morocco’s Atlas Cubs defeated Argentina 2-0 in the final.
That stunning tournament performance was followed by further individual recognition, as Maamma went on to claim the CAF Young Player of the Year award and is heavily tipped to feature in the Golden Boy nomination shortlist.
L’Equipe reports that Watford’s prized asset is expected to leave Vicarage Road this summer, with several clubs circling ahead of what promises to be a competitive transfer battle.
Everton face stiff competition from Benfica, Crystal Palace, and Lille, all of whom are understood to be monitoring the Moroccan international ahead of a potential summer move.
David Moyes’ side appear to be making early formal moves, with the report indicating the club have made enquiries over a potential transfer to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Maamma’s standout strengths are his blistering pace, dribbling ability, and capacity to bypass defenders in wide areas with a combination of technical skill and explosive movement.
Although he predominantly operates on the right wing, the youngster can comfortably play across the entire frontline, adding tactical flexibility that would suit a variety of systems.
His dynamism allows him to stretch defences from wide positions or drift into central areas to link up with teammates and exploit spaces between defensive lines.
Maamma also possesses strong vision to complement his dribbling qualities, giving him a well-rounded attacking skill set that makes him a strong fit for David Moyes’ tactical setup.
The Moroccan international will likely cost considerably more than his current £6 million Transfermarkt valuation, reflecting his rapid rise and the growing competition for his signature this summer.