Everton are tracking two defenders in Italy as transfer rumours continue

Even though it’s looking more likely Everton will go into another weekend without naming a new manager, there are of course still more transfer rumours doing the rounds.

Several of these stories are focused on central defenders and two who have already in the past been linked with a move to Everton.

Those defenders are Merih Demiral and Chris Smalling. Turkish centre-back Demiral has been repeatedly linked with a move to Goodison Park while Smalling was alledegly on the club’s radar last summer before moving from Manchester United to Roma on loan.

Despite spending much of last season in the Juve first team, Demiral is surplus to requirements and the Italian giants are willing to listen to offers for the 23-year-old this summer.

It looked like the Blues would be trying to bring in another central defender this summer when Carlo Ancelotti was still manager. He was particularly focused on signing a player he previously managed at Napoli; Khalidou Koulibaly.

Now Ancelotti is gone that deal seems dead in the water. But while whoever comes in as the new manager will have his own ideas about where the emphasis for improvement should be focused, bringing in another central defender might be one of them.

Last season Everton struggled at times defensively especially during the period after the first international break when the old problems of defensive lapses and conceding soft and preventable goals returned.

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Ancelotti temporarily solved this problem by going to a four centre-back system at the beginning of December but injuries (particularly to Yerry Mina) and the erratic form of Mason Holgate, put that and future defensive solidity in doubt.

So it possible that bringing in another central defender would make sense and perhaps Demiral could be that player.

However, his stock could have fallen after Turkey’s unimpressive showing in the Euros although on the other hand that would might probably reduce the fee needed to sign him.

But anyway there are other more pressing areas of the team that need major improvement such as right-back and a right-winger or forward who can operate in that position.

In addition, ideally the Toffees need another striker and probably also a central midfielder with energy and the ability to carry the ball forward. That’s a lot of new players needed.

However, it looks as though money will be tight this summer and so it’s possible existing players – maybe Richarlison for example – will have to be sold first to fund any serious spending.

These are all the decisions that the new Blues boss will have to wrestle with when, or if (!), that individual eventually takes over.

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Everton tracking two defenders in Italy

By Matt Townsend | Jun 25, 2021

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