Everton are reportedly interested in Chelsea outcast Branislav Ivanovic but it looks like Zenit St. Petersburg are on the verge of signing the wanted man.
Ivanovic, during his time in Chelsea’s first team, was a wealth of strength down the right byline. He possesses power, guile and strength most defenders only dream of. He has, however, fallen from grace since Antonio Conte took the helm at the start of the season.
The stout Serbian is almost assuredly leaving Stamford Bridge, with credible reports linking him to Russian juggernauts Zenit St. Petersburg.
This might not be such a bad thing for Everton and Seamus Coleman, though. Coleman is Everton’s first-choice right back and rightly so. The Republic of Ireland international had a few difficulties earlier in the season but has played consistently well ever since.
The 28-year-old is solid as a wingback in Koeman’s new system, even contributing regularly on the offensive side of the ball. Coleman scored the winner against Crystal Palace on the weekend and has a knack for coming up big when most needed.
Coleman would have been forced to fight for his position had Ivanovic penned a deal with the Toffees. But Ivanovic is not the player he once was, and therefore, knows he has a better chance of playing first-team football with the Russian outfit.
Ivanovic definitely isn’t a spring chicken anymore. The 32-year-old probably has a few good years left, but not in England. He’s not a man to accept playing second fiddle, which is probably one of the main reasons Ivanovic is going to leave.
There is no doubt Coleman is up for the challenge he’d face against any right-back challengers. Ivanovic, in his day, was one of the Premier League’s best right backs, but times change and so too does the value of aging afterthoughts.
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Sorry, Branislav, but Everton are no longer in the market for older, weathered defenders.
It’s a new day at Goodison and it’s about time everyone stands up and takes note of the forthcoming youth revolution. Thanks very much, but we’ve got enough aging defenders to keep the youngsters in check.