Everton has identified VfB Stuttgart forward Sasa Kalajdzic as a potential target ahead of the summer transfer window.
With the season now coming to an end, all clubs will be looking forward to addressing the various problems in their squads for the next season and will be eager to complete deals as soon as they can. After the news broke out on Wednesday, Evertonian fans were curious to know who the unknown quantity was and why their beloved club was eager to sign him.
Who is Sasa Kalajdzic?
Sasa Kalajdzic is an Austrian striker playing for the German club VfB Stuttgart. After a strong season so far, the 23-year-old has caught the eye of a number of clubs and Everton have been strongly linked to him as they look to bolster their forward line. The Austrian has scored 13 goals for Stuttgart in 24 league appearances this season and is 6th in the top scorer charts in the Bundesliga.
Kalajdzic began his career at Austrian side SR Donaufeld and moved to Admira Wacker in 2016. The Austrian signed for Stuttgart in July 2019 but did not make his debut until May 2020. He burst onto the scene this season scoring a total of 14 goals and giving 4 assists in 27 appearances in all competitions. The Austrian received a well-deserved call up to the Austria National team and made his international debut in October 2020 in the Nations League. His blistering form has subsequently led him to be named the next Erling Haaland and has led many of the top European clubs to vie for him.
According to various reports, top clubs such as Juventus, RB Leipzig, AS Roma, and Premier League club West Ham United are potential destinations for the striker.
Italian news outlet TuttoJuve has named Everton and Newcastle United as the two Premier League clubs who are in a race to sign the forward. Various reports also suggest that Everton’s Merseyside rivals Liverpool could also be in a race to sign Kalajdzic as they look for a replacement for Roberto Firmino who has looked out of sorts for the whole season. Liverpool have struggled to score goals lately and are hence in the market for a striker.
However, the striker revealed his admiration for Liverpool and admitted that he is a big fan of the club. Speaking to BILD when asked if an offer was made by Liverpool he said, “I feel completely at home at VfB, but it would be a really tough decision because I really like Liverpool. This club is simply special to me. When I was a kid, I saw the Champions League final in 2005 when Liverpool came back from 3-0 down against Milan to win. That gripped me.”
It could well come down to a race between Everton and Liverpool as they jostle to sign the striker. Sasa Kalajdzic’s future will certainly become clearer as the season goes on.
