Everton to initiate new round of talks for £17 million rated Serie A player

The name Rodrigo Becao has been circulating in the Everton newsfeeds for quite some time now. After the acquisition of James Tarkowski on a free transfer, the Toffees switched their attention to another centre back Becao.

Frank Lampard seems keen to add another player to his central defence with Becao emerging as a target. Although Everton are adequately stacked in the central defence, Lampard pushing for another centre back hints that there will be exits this summer. With Tarkowski, the Toffees have six centre back options. Jarrad Branthwaite could leave on loan in search of minutes which leaves Yerry Mina, Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey, Mason Holgate and Tarkowski available for selection.

If the Royal Blues do end up signing Becao, perhaps Mina or Keane may be shown the exit door. However, signing the Brazilian will not be an easy task. The Udinese defender was an integral part of the side, playing 35 out of 38 Serie A games, playing in a three man defence.

Becao looks a fit option to operate in a back three and there are rumors that Lampard will prefer a back three this season over a back four which is why he looks adamant about adding another centre back to the roster. The interest and talks had somewhat cooled over the last week but it now appears that Everton are not yet ready to give up on the Brazilian.

Everton come back for Rodrigo Becao

According to Tutto Mercato Web, Everton have made a strong comeback in the chase of Becao. Despite showing interest in the 26 year old a few weeks ago, no concrete negotiations had taken place. However, Everton are now back in the race for Becao and will initiate new talks with the former EC Bahia man. A formal offer could be redone by the English club.

The towering Brazilian stands at 6 feet 2 inches and possesses solid physical abilities. Without a doubt, he’s dominant in the air and doesn’t shy away from putting in aggressive tackles. In fact he registers 2.73 tackles per 90 minutes, putting him in the top four per cent of defenders in Europe’s big five leagues.

He’s an asset in the opposition box too. His height allows him to take advantage in dead-ball situations which justifies his 1.24 touches per 90 minutes in the attacking penalty area. Becao is comfortable playing on the right side of the three man defence. Udinese are said to be expecting a bid of £17 million for the 26 year old but Everton will try to bring down the asking price. (stats via FBref)

His profile is somewhat similar to Mina meaning that the Colombian could indeed leave Goodison this summer. Just like Tarkowski, Becao has managed a comprehensive fitness record, playing 35 out of 38 games in the Italian league in the last two seasons each. In the 2019-20 season, the Brazil defender played 29 games and remained injury free. This could be a huge plus given Mina’s unimpressive fitness record.

Should the Toffees sign Rodrigo Becao?