Right-Backs Everton could target?
Everton go into the summer transfer window with positional needs that the club have failed to address for the best part of two, three seasons now. The right side of the defence is one of those particular positions. Since Seamus Coleman’s leg break, Everton have not had a solid, stalwart right sided defender. This summer, it is vital that David Moyes brings somebody in to fill that position.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham)
Congolese full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has already been rumoured to be being targeted by Blues’ boss David Moyes. With the Hammers being relegated this past season, it seems likely that there will be players leaving this summer and Wan-Bissaka gives Everton a perfect opportunity to make-right on their inability to fill the position in past windows. At only 28-years of age, Wan-Bissaka provides an experienced option who could be a permanent starter for a good couple of years yet. Valued at around 15-20 million, Wan-Bissaka provides over 200 games of Premier League experience, something which would be vital on the right side of that Everton defence. With Seamus Coleman already informing the club of his decision to leave and Nathan Patterson likely to find a new club, whether that be permanently or just for the upcoming season, the Blues will need a multitude of options and potentially at least two signings, so Wan-Bissaka would be an ideal experienced starter to play in front of a potential young signing.
Connor Roberts (Burnley)
Another option from a relegated side, Roberts is another potential option the Blues could explore if they are looking for an experienced head on that back-line. The Welsh international, capped over 60 times for the Welsh national team has a plethora of experience playing at the highest of levels, however never managed to break into the Burnley first team much last season due to their signing of former Manchester City full-back Kyle Walker. Depsite that, during Burnley’s Championship triumph the year before, Roberts played 41 times in that campaign and was a consistent starter in the team for that season. At 30-years of age, Roberts would undoubtedly be a more experienced option, an option which will not provide a long-standing option at the position, however, he would provide a good option for a season or two if the Toffees can bring in another young player at the position to develop. Cost-wise, I believe he would only cost somewhere in the range of 2-5 million at the top end of his value, so he does give off the vibe of a more wheeler-dealer type deal, something which David Moyes made famous during his first stint at the helm of the Blues.
Sergino Dest (PSV)
Dutch-born Sergino Dest, who represents the United States internationally has played the majority of his career in the Eredivsie, however, he did have a three-year stint in which he played for both Barcelona and AC Milan. So, for those two European giants to sign the American, there has to be something to the ability of the full-back. He has spent the past two seasons at PSV, but if Dest can put together a strong tournament this summer at the World Cup, he may attract the attention again of the teams from the bigger leagues. The Premier League is the best league in the world, it is where every player wants to ply their trade, so could the Blues tempt the American into a stint in England. I imagine the deal would cost somewhere around the same as a potential Aaron Wan-Bissaka deal, but at just 25-years of age, Dest would provide a more long-standing cover at the position. It may be a risk, as a number of players who have performed in the Eredivisie, have failed in the Premier League, but it is a risk I think Everton should consider if they cannot tempt any primary targets to the club.
Hector Fort (FC Barcelona)
19-year old Hector Fort was linked with a move to the Premier League late in the last summer transfer window, however, a move failed to materialise and instead Barcelona loaned the youngster out to Elche for the year. In typical fashion of a Barcelona product, Fort has the potential to play on both sides of the back-four, whilst primarily covering the right-back position. A flexibility that David Moyes often likes in his defensive players (see the signings of Joleon Lescott et al during his first stint with the club). A still relatively inexperienced youngster, Fort will be an option that gives the Blues a comfort on the ball and an ability overlapping attacking players, something which has been lacked since the younger days of Seamus Coleman. If a deal is to be made, expect any deal to cost up towards 20 million, however at just 19-years old, it will be a solid investment in this current market of football.
Arnau Martinez (Girona)
Another product of the famous La Masia Barcelona academy, Arnau Martinez has made his name plying his trade for Girona in La Liga. He has played nearly 200 times for the Spanish outfit and is another versatile option. Martinez has played primarily at right-back but has also deputised across the rest of the back-line and also further forward in midfield. At just 23-years of age and with a value of around 10-15 million, Everton could realistically make a deal for both he and an experienced option such as Wan-Bissaka. If that was to happen, any deal made for Martinez could include a potential loan-back option for at least a season, which may further encourage Girona in making a deal for the full-back. He has registered around 20 assists in his near 200 games, which may not represent the greatest of returns, however, the Spanish league is often played at a slower pace and often more centrally than the Premier League can be.
So, there is definitely options across Europe for the Blues and although it is likely to be former Crystal Palace full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka who is the number one option, the Blues can hopefully look forward to an ending of at least one positional need. Who do you think the Blues should, or could target?