[People Profile] All We Know About Niels Nkounkou Biography, Career, Family, Networth

Niels Patrick Nkounkou was born on at the 1st of November in 2000, was an French professional player, who works in the left-back position with Premier League club Everton. He made his debut international for his country’s France Olympic team in Tokyo 2020.

Club careers

Early in the career

Profiling Niels Patrick Nkounkou

Nkounkou began his career with Cergy Pontoise, coming through the club’s youth ranks. He was signed by Ligue 1 giants Marseille in the year 2017. A promising youngster, Nkounkou played regularly for Marseille’s B side, frequently training alongside the senior side and playing on the bench two times in the first team of the 2019-20 season.

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Everton

Nkounkou joined Everton via a free transfer in July 2020. He signed an agreement for three years, following refusing to sign a professional contract with Marseille because the sporting plan that was proposed by the French club. The club’s proposal was not appealing to the defender, and for his development. The prospect of working alongside Carlo Ancelotti convinced Nkounkou to join the Toffees. The agent of Nkounkou Yvan Le Mee emphasized that the coach called him and spoke with him and was aware of the player’s potential. Working together with him, Ancelotti could transform him into a star player.

Nkounkou made his debut at Everton in the three-goal EFL Cup victory against Salford City where the player was awe-inspiring, and formed an efficient attacking team along the left-hand side of the field with his fellow youth player Anthony Gordon. Nkounkou put on a strong performance in his subsequent match that was also part of the EFL Cup, against Fleetwood Town which he concluded by assisting back-heeled for an goal for Moise Kean during a 5-1 victory.

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Nkounkou made his debut in a game in the league for Everton on November 1, 2020, against Newcastle United, a game Everton lost with a score of 2-1. He was substituted for his teammate Lucas Digne who was serving an one-match ban. He made his second appearance in the league on the final week of football, when Everton was defeated 5-0 in the Premier League to Manchester City on 23 May 2021.

International career

In France, Nkounou is of Republic of Congo descent. He has played for France and has been selected twice by the nation’s U19 team. On July 20, 2021 Nkounkou was called to the France Olympics squad. They will be playing Japan, South Africa and Mexico in the group A of the competition. Nkounkou made his debut in the squad of France U23 as they faced South Africa in the second tournament game on July 25, 2021.

The style of the game

After the signing of Nkounkou, Everton Director of Football Marcel Brands said “Niels is a young, talented player with good technical and physical skills.” Jeremy Smith, a French football journalist and podcaster for French Football Weekly said it was true that “Nkounkou is a well-regarded young left-back who can also play further up the left flank is a little like a Benjamin Mendy in that he is strong, has a great engine and can patrol the whole flank all match and has a decent shot and cross on him too.”

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Everton: Niels Nkounkou conundrum for Frank Lampard as transfer priorities develops

Niels Nkounkou was a new arrival from Marseille for a small sum under PS250,000. The deal was seen as an excellent bargain and a brilliant selection by former Everton manager Marcel Brands. Nkounku was a jewel that required polishing before the player was at his best to conquer the world.

The Frenchman displayed immense potential as a left-back who was able to fly on the left winged possessing an aggressive mind like Lucas Digne who used to dominate his left flank. Nkounkou was seen as modern, quick left-back with all the attributes of an attacking player required of the player.

The one area he was lacking was his defense. At the time, a teenager Nkounkou was not fully aware of his role in defense and was working on his defensive positioning. Although he was not avoid putting tackles in and chasing attackers but his positioning skills was in need of improvement.

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Carlo Ancelotti used him in six games, which gave the player an opportunity for his Premier League debut. Nkounkou was able to exploit space however he had to develop his confidence with the ball. Under the tutelage of Ancelotti Nkounkou had been working tirelessly and gaining. In the year 2021, he was a summer player, when Ancelotti left as Rafa Benitez was able to take his player out to loan.

What’s will be the next step what’s next Niels Nkounkou as well as Everton?

Nkounkou The entire season, Nkounkou was as a loan player at Standard Liege, making a total of 24 appearances for the Belgian team. The move to Standard Liege resulted in Everton short in the left-back department However, a loan transfer was essential for the player in a pivotal stage of his career development.

The development of Nkounkou has been good with some moments of ups and downs. In Luka Elsner’s formation the 21-year old was a left back. He also was a left wing back, when playing in the back five. The Frenchman has gained much in the last year and is now able to go back to his parent club.

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With Nkounkou slated for the return of Nkounkou, there’s one important question that needs to be addressed. What’s next for the full back?

Everton hired Vitaliy Mykolenko in the month of January. the Ukrainian has settled in at the club, putting on stunning performances. There’s no doubt about his future involvement as he’s likely to play a major role for the club under Frank Lampard.

But it is true that the Toffees don’t have a second option to Mykolenko. Ben Godfrey can deputize but his assistance is needed for central defense because Yerry Mina is frequently injured, and Michael Keane may be offloaded. Nkounkou is certainly an option to consider.

He comes back with a year of playing experience and a year in his resume. Although he’s unlikely to challenge Mykolenko however, the 21-year youngster can be a backup player and be a part of cup matches. Also, should Everton choose to risk it and let him go on another loan but this time to an Championship or Premier League club so the 21-year-old can get his way in England?

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Another option is selling him when he is entering the final year of his contract in the summer. If the Toffees don’t see an opportunity to work with Nkounkou selling Nkounkou could be the most effective alternative for everyone. This is a dilemma which needs to be addressed swiftly.

But, the possibility of selling him could be the least popular. The main goals of Everton during the summer time is to acquire high-quality young players who have an acceptable resales value. The club already has a talented youngster that was purchased for the price of peanuts in the year 2020. If the transformation goes according to plan, Nkounkou is likely to be worth significantly higher than he is now.

The decision must be madeon the best option is to either keep him in the club and have him an understudy of Mykolenko or let him go to loan to be played every week.