Everton could secure a significant upgrade on Alex Iwobi after being linked with a move for Dinamo Moscow midfielder Arsen Zakharyan ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.

What's the story?

According to TEAMtalk, the Toffees are one of a number of clubs across the continent tracking the highly-rated 18-year-old ahead of a potential move.

The report lists Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Atalanta, Roma and Inter Milan amongst Zakharyan's potential suitors, while multiple Premier League clubs are also in pursuit.

English champions Manchester City and European champions Chelsea are believed to be at the front of the queue for the teenagers signature, with Brighton, Brentford and Leicester City joining Everton in compiling impressive reports on the starlet.

Bye-Bye Alex Iwobi

After making his first-team debut for Dinamo in 2020, Zakharyan has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting talents to come out of his homeland in many 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 Russia's senior set up before going on to feature in four World Cup qualification fixtures.

And Zakharyan has taken his game to new heights in the opening weeks of the current campaign.

The youngster was described as having "exciting potential" by journalist Ben Bocsak, and it's easy to understand why.

Zakharyan has already notched up two strikes and a whopping seven assists in 14 appearances for the capital club, playing a pivotal part in their rise to third place in the top-flight table.

It's no surprise then, that the £8.1m-rated prodigy has caught the eye of so many European heavyweights, but it's arguably Everton who need his inventiveness and eye for a pass most.

Former Arsenal academy graduate Iwobi has struggled to make his mark on the Merseyside outfit since his big-money move back in the summer of 2019, providing just 11 goal contributions in 76 outings for the Blues.

As a result, the Nigeria international has often fallen way below the standard expected at Everton, and the club's hierarchy could secure a big upgrade on the 25-year-old by sanctioning a move for Zakharyan over the coming months.

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