Everton Reportedly Targeting Manchester United’s Lindelof
By Tom Power
Rumours today indicate Everton are allegedly looking to recruit £35m-Rated centre-back.
Everton are reportedly eyeing a summer swoop for Manchester United flop Victor Lindelof, according to the Mirror.
New Blues boss Marco Silva and director of football Marcel Brands have already made mention of needing to bolster their defensive ranks in the close season.
And that has seen the Mirror speculate that the duo are keeping tabs on Swedish international Lindelof.
The 23-year-old endured a stop-start maiden campaign at Old Trafford following his £31.5m switch from Benfica almost 12 months ago, and a fresh start down the M62 could be just the ticket for Lindelof to finally stamp his authority on the Premier League.
Lindelof would apparently set Everton back around £35m – a fee greater than the one United shelled out last summer in an effort to prise the talented centre-back away from Portugal.
Everton do need fresh blood at the heart of their defence, with the likes of veteran defender Ashley Williams and club captain Phil Jagielka now 33 and 35 years of age respectively.
Ramiro Funes Mori, meanwhile, has seen his future at Goodison Park called into question after reports back in May linked him with a move to Mexico.
Talk on that front has cooled since the beginning of June, it remains to be seen where the Argentine will play his football next term.
That leaves Michael Keane and Mason Holgate as the only senior centre-backs available to Silva under the age of 25.
And, with Funes Mori and Williams potentially having featured for the Toffees for the last time, the 40-year-old would require a fourth option alongside Keane, Jagielka and Holgate.
Two possible buffers stand in the way of Everton bringing Lindelof to Merseyside, however.
United may not be interested in selling someone who, after a year of acclimatizing to England’s top flight, could hit the ground running next season if manager Jose Mourinho elects to give him another chance.
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It is also up for debate whether Everton would be willing to shell out £35m on Lindelof with reservations over his ability to play in the Premier League still front and centre at the present time.
There would be cheaper options available to the Blues if they do offload Williams and Funes Mori.
And, whilst those cheap alternatives could prove to be flops themselves, the financial outlay would not be as great for a club that has already revealed that it wishes to cut down on its highest earners.
Lindelof would command a decent wage if he decided to join Silva at Goodison Park – a salary that Brands and Silva may not want to fork out unless they can reduce the wage bill beforehand.
Next: Blues midfield loan player roundup
Lindelof turned out 29 times in all competitions for United last term, and is part of the Sweden squad that will be at the World Cup this month in Russia – a chance for Evertonians to see whether he would be a worthwhile investment or not.