English Premier League club Everton is hoping to complete a deal for the 22-year-old American Anton Peterlin by the end of the week. Graham Smith, Peterlin’s coach at the Ventura County Fusion, believes Peterlin can succeed in England but says he will need time to adapt.
“A 22-year-old boy like Anton Peterlin, probably David Moyes is going to view him as he would a 18-year-old English or European boy,” Smith said. “His football age and his football development is somewhat behind Europeans and South Americans, who have come through the professional system. He’s going to be on a fast track to catch up and get to the level where the Everton coaching staff can say ‘hey he’s ready now’ but hopefully they’ve seen enough to believe he can do it.”
Smith believes Everton are about to make an astute signing. “He’s a highly intelligent boy in the football sense,” he added. “He’s neat and sharp with his passing and he breaks up moves from the opposition.”