Done Deal: Everton signed 21-year-old German midfield prospect Merlin Rohl from SC Freiburg.

Everton, Newcastle United, and Crystal Palace are keen on signing 21-year-old German midfield prospect Merlin Rohl from SC Freiburg.

According to a report by The Sun, Merlin Rohl is the subject of interest from Everton. Newcastle United and Crystal Palace are also keen on signing the 21-year-old SC Freiburg midfield prospect in the summer transfer window. However, the Toffees are the front-runners to land the youngster, who will cost around £12 million.

Who is Merlin Rohl?

Merlin Rohl is one of the best young prospects in the Bundesliga. A native of Berlin, the German whizkid passed through the academy at SV Babelsberg before graduating from the youth division at FC Ingolstadt 04 a few years ago. However, his stock has risen since joining SC Freiburg in August 2022.

The 21-year-old has grown in stature in the last two years, becoming a mainstay in the middle of the park for Freiburg while regularly featuring for Germany’s under-21 side. Rohl has enjoyed a solid 2023/24 campaign thus far, turning out 34 times across all competitions while chipping in with three goals and four assists. However, the youngster’s Freiburg future is uncertain amid his links with Premier League clubs like Everton, Newcastle United, and Crystal Palace.

A man in demand

Everton will likely delve into the market for a midfielder in the summer transfer window. The Toffees are in a spot of bother over the long-term future of Amadou Onana, with several well-known clubs, including Newcastle United, keen on signing him. Rohl has thus emerged as a viable target for Everton as they scour the market for a replacement.

As for Newcastle United, they are combing the market for a versatile midfielder, with Amadou Onana one of the targets. However, Merlin Rohl is also an option worth considering, with the 21-year-old German midfield prospect capable of playing as a box-to-box midfielder and an attacking midfielder.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace will also look to sign a midfielder in the summer transfer window, with several candidates, including Daichi Kamada, emerging as targets. However, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United have fallen behind Everton in the race to sign Rohl from SC Freiburg.

Meanwhile, the 21-year-old German midfield prospect will not cost a bomb, with Freiburg demanding around £12 million to part ways with him in the summer transfer window. It will be interesting to see if Everton can beat Newcastle United and Crystal Palace to his signature.