Axel Witsel has admitted he could have been close to a Premier League move in the past - naming Everton as a potential destination six-years after the deal fell through.
The midfielder’s contract with Borussia Dortmund came to an end at the close of last season after four years and 145 appearances for the Bundesliga club across all competitions. Several teams across Europe were interested in signing him on a free transfer, with Spurs named as a potential suitor back in May.
But the 33-year-old instead went to Spain to join up with Atletico Madrid in July, starting every game for Diego Simeone’s side so far this season. And asked whether a move to England was ever on the cards in the past, the Belgian pointed back to the summer of 2016 and a failed move to Everton.
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Witsel admitted he had been close to joining a Premier League team in the past, and when asked by ESPN if he could expand, the Belgian said: “Yes, I can. It was Everton and one time Tottenham.”
The 124-cap Belgian international was closing in on a move to Goodison Park in July 2016, with Everton agreeing a then club-record £30million deal with Zenit St. Petersburg - his team at the time. Toffees boss Ronald Koeman had been a huge admirer of Witsel since his two-season spell in Benfica, and wanted to make the midfielder the first signing of his Blues tenure.
But after three weeks and little movement in the deal, the move hung in the balance due to to the Zenit star’s huge wage demands, and what would’ve been a statement Toffees signing eventually fell through. Witsel spent another six-months in Russia before moving to Chinese outfit Tianjin Quanjian in January 2017 - reportedly in a deal that brought him nearly €350,000-per-week.
The Belgian spent just two seasons in China before signing for Borussia Dortmund in 2018. Meanwhile, Koeman - still keen on adding strength in midfield - looked elsewhere and found a cheaper option in England, with Aston Villa’s Idrissa Gueye signing for just £7.1million.
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