BK Häcken sporting director Erik Friberg has confirmed Everton, Sunderland, Celtic and others need to pay more than €5m sign Abdoulaye Doumbia in the winter market.

He’s played 2,389 minutes from 28 matches, even managing two goals and three assists. The 19-year-old’s rapid development since joining Häcken from Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas in January hasn’t gone unnoticed.

This has seen several European clubs, including Everton, Sunderland and Celtic, take notice.

No comment on Everton, Sunderland, Celtic

Martin O’Neill’s side are one of the several British clubs in the mix to sign the defensive midfielder. Last week, Sport Witness relayed news about Celtic, Everton, Sunderland and Coventry City’s interest.

Besides Celtic and the Premier League trio, Bayer Leverkusen, Paris FC, OGC Nice, RC Lens, SC Freiburg and Club Brugge are also keen.

Africa Foot covered this report, and Göteborgs-Posten points out Everton, Sunderland and Celtic’s interest in Abdoulaye Doumbia to Erik Friberg. He refused to comment on these individual clubs but ‘confirms great interest’ in the youngster.

He said: “It’s big if you look at which clubs have been watching him and which clubs are talking about him. Right now, there’s nothing really concrete, but I think it could happen eventually.”

On the player’s development in Sweden, Friberg explained: “We are very, very happy with him. He has taken a starting place straight away and has been one of the best young players we have seen over a whole year. It is something special.”

“Great. In many ways too. He loves to compete and is a character – that is important and will take him very far. He is constantly driving and will only get better and better.”

Deal not expensive for Everton and Sunderland

Transfermarkt value the young Ivorian at €5m, and the Turkish press have reported this as his price. The same media also stated Trabzonspor had a meeting with BK Häcken, and Erik Friberg quickly dismissed it.

When further asked whether €5m is too low, the director said: “I won’t talk money to you, but it probably would have been, yes.”

On the possibility of Abdoulaye Doumbia leaving in January, Friberg concluded: “No, I don’t want to say that. Then if he’s here for another six months or a year, we’ll see. But we’re very, very happy with him.”

Irrespective of whether Doumbia changes club in January or next summer, the asking price is unlikely to be much higher than €5m. In short, it would be affordable at least for Everton, Sunderland and Coventry City.