Prince Rupert's Tower
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Salisu touted as an option for Everton

By Matt Townsend

LEGANES, SPAIN - JUNE 13: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Mohammed Salisu of Real Valladolid and Oscar Garcia of CD Leganes battle for the ball during the Liga match between CD Leganes and Real Valladolid CF at Estadio Municipal de Butarque June 13, 2020 in Leganes, Spain. (Photo by Berengui/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
LEGANES, SPAIN - JUNE 13: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Mohammed Salisu of Real Valladolid and Oscar Garcia of CD Leganes battle for the ball during the Liga match between CD Leganes and Real Valladolid CF at Estadio Municipal de Butarque June 13, 2020 in Leganes, Spain. (Photo by Berengui/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) /
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A day after Everton secured a solid, well deserved draw in the Merseyside derby in a game that highlighted their defensive capability, the Blues are being linked with yet more new central defensive options.

We cover some of these stories today in other articles, but one more new player Everton are supposedly interested in is Real Valladolid defender Mohammed Salisu.

According to the Daily Mail here in the UK, the Toffees are tracking the Ghanaian centre-back with a view to possibly considering signing him this summer.

The defender has a buy-out clause of around £10 million and according to the paper, Salisu wants a move to a Premier League club this year.

Along with Everton, other English clubs supposedly interested in him are Southampton and Manchester United.

So as we deal with yet another transfer rumour claiming the Blues are looking at a new central defensive option, is this latest candidate Salisu a good bet?

The 21-year-old is a powerful, young defender who seems to be left-footed, something Carlo Ancelotti is looking for. He has some solid defensive qualities but also some significant weaknesses too, at least according to whoscored.com.

Once more with all these players linked to a move to Goodison Park, it’s very difficult to know whether this is just more idle paper talk, or if there’s anything to it and if the youngster would add a great deal extra to the Blues defensive effort.

I personally don’t think Salisu is the best bet if Everton are going to invest in another central defender. There are probably other more preferable options like Jean-Clair Todibo or better still, Gabriel who would be good additions to the Toffees defensive ranks.

However, yesterday’s game indicated that perhaps, as I’ve said before, the Blues don’t necessarily need to invest millions more in further young and unproven central defenders.

Everton defended very well last night ultimately comfortably keeping Liverpool out, albeit in a game in which both teams were rusty and under-cooked after the prolonged lockdown.

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Mason Holgate and Michael Keane were excellent together in the heart of the Toffees defence.

Holgate in particular is improving all the time and is surely nailed on for a starting place now, while Yerry Mina who didn’t play, is also still to come back from injury having been very solid all season.

Then there are young defensive prospects like Jarrad Branthwaite and Lewis Gibson. Branthwaite was on the bench yesterday and Gibson is currently on loan so perhaps he’s further down in the pecking order.

If the Blues can get a genuinely top draw centre-back on board, then be all means sign him.

However, if the club can’t be sure that type of player is available and is also affordable, then perhaps they should look at someone like Thiago Silva instead.

He would come on a free transfer, could provide plenty of quality, experience and defensive nous and so hopefully help bring on the Blues young central defenders.

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