AC Milan turns to £18 million Everton defender as an alternative to Sven Botman

Everton are having a busy January transfer window with the arrivals of Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko. Departures are expected in the defence with Lucas Digne guaranteed to leave the club. Another Everton defender Yerry Mina is also gathering interest from Serie A.

Central defence is an area that seems well stacked in terms of available players but there have been cries for up-gradation to Michael Keane and Mason Holgate. The Everton central defence has often let down the team due to individual errors costing the side points.

Mina is Rafa Benitez’s first choice defender and has often been the difference maker in the Everton backline this season with the Toffees often sailing easily when the Colombian is at the heart of the rearguard. When Mina is unavailable due to injury, the Toffees have suffered a lot defensively.

With Mina in the backline, his partner, Keane, seems to be far more calm and composed and less error prone. The former Barcelona man uses his strength well and keeps the ball at his feet, not misplacing passes too often. He is a key player but has a downside too. He’s injury prone and has very poor fitness record.

AC Milan eye Everton defender Yerry Mina

When Mina manages to keep himself fit, he can play games at a stretch and put up effective performances. He is a force to be reckoned with in air, winning 77.8% of his aerial duels, offering security at the back.

But once he picks up an injury, it like dominos knocking in line. The Colombian has already missed 12 games this season due to calf and hamstring injuries. His absence in key phases of the campaign has really hurt the Toffees.

Despite his ominous injury record, there are suitors for Mina. AC Milan have been long time admirers of LOSC Lille defender Sven Botman. The Rossoneri continue to dream about the Dutchman in the winter transfer window but the Ligue 1 champions have set an asking price upwards of €30 million which is considered to be high in the eyes of the Italians.

Competition from Newcastle United is also intense as the Magpies have made another offer as Botman is their primary target in the winter transfer window, as per Fabrizio Romano. Milan are aware of these factors and have been evaluating different alternatives.

According to Tutto Mercato Web, Everton defender Mina is one of the alternatives. PSG’s Abdou Diallo and Attila Szalai of Fenerbahce are among the other options. It is not mentioned whether AC Milan will activate any of these pursuits.

Everton probably won’t be open to sanctioning Mina’s sale in January but with the Colombian’s contract expiring in summer 2023, he could be sold in the summer if a reliable defender comes in.

Should Yerry Mina be sold in the summer?