Cuco Martina on Cusp of Stoke Season Long Loan Deal
By Tom Power
Full-back ready to join Potters after being frozen out at Goodison Park
Everton defender Cuco Martina is all set to join Stoke City on a season long loan, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The right-back was one of four Blues players told that they could leave by manager Marco Silva before the Premier League’s summer transfer window slammed shut on 9th August.
Despite being unable to bring players in, English top flight clubs can still let those surplus to requirements depart – a rule that has allowed Martina the chance to head to Staffordshire.
The 28-year-old will join up with fellow Toffees outcast Ashley Williams at the bet365 stadium for this term and he opted to play for them over fellow Championship outfit Middlesbrough.
Everton had hoped to sell Martina for around £2m but, with no offers forthcoming, they have decided to allow the Curacao international to leave Goodison Park on loan instead.
Martina turned out 28 times in all competitions for Everton last season as he filled in at right-back and left-back – the latter position in the team coming whilst Leighton Baines was sidelined for three months with a calf strain.
The 2017 summer free transfer signing, however, did little to impress Silva or director of football Marcel Brands during pre-season and was one of four stars told they could leave.
Martina wouldn’t have broken into the starting lineup with the likes of Baines, Seamus Coleman and Jonjoe Kenny joined in the full-back ranks by Lucas Digne.
The ex-Barcelona left-back completed an £18m switch to Merseyside in August to further push Martina down the pecking order.
Martina, who has also played for Southampton in England, just didn’t have the quality to be a successful Toffees player despite his willingness to play out of position last season.
He should be a decent acquisition for Stoke as Gary Rowett’s side look for an immediate return to the Premier League following their relegation in May.
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If he performs well, other suitors may become interested in signing him permanently so it could well become a win-win situation for both Everton and Martina yet.