Former Everton manager Roberto Martinez has already been full of praise for the club's transfer target Amadou Onana.
The Blues have matched a bid from West Ham United for the Lille midfielder, which could potentially rise to £33.5m. Various reports over the last 24 hours have suggested the Blues are growing in confidence that the 20-year-old would prefer a move to Goodison Park over the London Stadium.
Onana was handed his debut for the Belgium national team back in June. He was introduced from the bench as the Red Devils lost 4-1 to the Netherlands in the Nations League and impressed Martinez, who has been in charge of Belgium since 2016.
READ MORE: Amadou Onana bid made as Everton try to beat West Ham to £33.5m transfer
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Following the game, the boss remarked [via Archysport ]: "It’s a profile that could be very useful for us. He is different from other midfield players. It is in this perspective that I wanted to test it. He did what I expected of him. He brought physicality but also his quality in small spaces, in keeping possession of the ball.
"He has a strong personality. We saw him as soon as he started playing. He never hides, he asks for the ball and dares. That’s why I wanted to bring him into a situation of pressure. In a full stadium and a derby. He will be able to develop with our team."
Onana commented on his pride at winning his first cap for Belgium. But he couldn't hide his disappointment at the result of the team.
Onana said: "I’m caught between two emotions. I’m celebrating my first cap. I’m very proud of it. I didn’t expect to be able to play a full half straight away.
"It’s great because I’m gaining a lot of experience. On the other hand, the evening as a whole is hard to digest. It was difficult to find the flaw and we have to analyse what happened. You have to know how to suffer together in these kinds of moments. And react as a group."
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