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Ivanovic might join Everton

By Matt Townsend

LISBON, PORTUGAL - DECEMBER 10: Branislav Ivanovic of Zenit St Petersburg in action during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between SL Benfica and Zenit St. Petersburg at Estadio da Luz on December 10, 2019 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
LISBON, PORTUGAL - DECEMBER 10: Branislav Ivanovic of Zenit St Petersburg in action during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between SL Benfica and Zenit St. Petersburg at Estadio da Luz on December 10, 2019 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images) /
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According to several media reports, Everton are on the verge of signing former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on a free transfer.

Is this really likely and why would Everton want to sign the 36-year-old who has most recently been playing his trade in the Russian league with Zenit St Petersburgh.

As usual with such reports, they must be taken with a pinch of salt. But according to The Sun, Ivanovic is quoted as saying joining the Blues is his likely next career move. So who knows..?

On the surface this would seem to be a bizarre and strange move. However,  there might be some method to this apparent madness.

While solving the problems in midfield should most definitely be the club’s transfer window priority, I’ve said before that I think the Toffees do need a bit more experience in key positions, in particular in central defence and up front.

Although it would be a risk, Everton do seem to have the makings of a talented young central defensive partnership with Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite and/or Lewis Gibson.

They along with Micheal Keane and Yerry Mina, despite his injury problems, would potentially give the Blues enough cover in central defence. Although if an offer comes in for Mina this summer, it should probably be entertained.

But there is a lack of experience within that group of overwhelmingly young player, especially without Mina if he were to go.

And so I’ve said before that if Everton were able to bring in a veteran central defender on a free then it might be worth considering as such a player would give some needed nous to the young Toffees defenders’ and their game.

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Manager Carlo Ancelotti seemed to have a similar thought and the Blues boss was linked with a move for one of his many former players, PSG’s Brazilian defender Thiago Silva.

There were rumours he wanted to finish his career in the Premier League having wound down his contract. But now it doesn’t seem as though Silva will be moving to England after all.

So if indeed Ancelotti does want to get someone with the wealth of experience that a player such as Silva would have brought, he will have to now look elsewhere for it.

Ivanovic might therefore be a player on his radar who could, in theory at least, provide that added experience Ancelotti is searching for. In addition Ivanovic has also got plenty of Premier League experience.

Still it would seem to be a transfer window move that would be right out of left field if it does actually happen.

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