Everton are again being linked with Lazio midfielder Ogenyi “Eddy” Onazi following transfer speculation last year.
The 20 year old Nigerian has broken into the first team this season and according to TalkSport, Fiorentina, Wolfsburg and Hertha Berlin are also interested in the player.
Onazi is said to be rated at around £4m and Everton have sent club officials to watch the player on a number of occasions. He made the Italian press last season when he sprinted after a pick pocket and frog marched him back to the restaurant he was sitting in and called the police after seeing the man target tourists.
‘I was having dinner with my brother near to the Termini Station and there were some tourists sitting next to us,’ Onazi explained.
‘I saw a boy and immediately felt due to his suspicious behaviour that he wanted to steal something. I didn’t even have time to tell my brother that he had already snatched the tourist’s wallet and run off.
‘I noticed it, so I ran after him, but stayed on the other side of the street. I ran for 300 metres, the mugger left the wallet under a car, but I saw him.
‘I chased him down and brought him back to the restaurant, avoiding the ire of the people around there. I told the restaurant owner to call the police and we brought the wallet back to the lady. She was in tears and thanked me, as the wallet was full of money.
‘At that point, seeing as the situation had been resolved, my brother and I left.’
Onazi has played 17 times for his country and scored once and has risen to become a fans favourite this year.
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