With the January transfer window now less than a month away, one Everton player is being linked with a move away from Goodison Park.
That is Colombian centre-back Yerry Mina who according to reports in the media today is being eyed by several Serie A clubs who will test his resolve to stay at Everton.
This story claims a number of Italian clubs are interested in the big defender. Chief among them is AC Milan who are apparently keen to bring the South American to Italy.
Mina’s contract has two years to run and the former Barcelona player has often been rumoured to be a possible or maybe even probable candidate to leave the Toffees’ at some point.
The powerful defender does have a very chequered history of injury problems and he’s out again with a injury that seems to be increasingly intractible.
This issue together with his age might in theory make him a player Everton would be prepared to sell, for the right price.
However, that will all depend on bringing in a player of equivilent quality because the Colombian is undoubtedly the best centre-back in the squad.
His strength, especially in the air, defensive abilities and increasing leadership, something he seems to have really developed in the last twelve months or so, make him crucial to the Toffees’ defensive resiliance.
The Blues’ have been linked themselves with a host of other central defenders over the last couple of years and given results again this campaign with so many goals conceded, further defensive reinforcements would seem imperative.
Mina’s situation is part of a wider issue I think the club has. As we all know finances are very tight due to Financial Fair Play rules and even if some money is available in January, it’s likely the majority of any signings made will be loan deals.
And, if Everton reach the summer and are still a Premier League club (which looks questionable at the moment) then whoever is manager will surely stil have constraints and may have to consider selling players before he can spend any significant sums.
And, if that’s the case Mina will probably be one of those players who might well be available if indeed the club are forced to offload some sellable assests this summer. This could be necessary to support the latest effort to rebuild this dysfunctional and massively underachieving team.