Becao linked with Everton again amid rumours of Mina move to Inter
Everton are one of several clubs alledgedly keeping tabs on a possible new central defensive signing, Rodrigo Becao, as stories of Yerry Mina’s impending departure to Italy gather pace.
Although the transfer window is closed and we’re right in the middle of the Premier League campaign, it’s still silly season in terms of speculative media stories and Everton are again being regularly linked with transfer moves for various players.
However, the most recent rumours involve a player leaving the club with media reports suggesting Inter Milan are ready to make a move for Mina in the January transfer window.
The veteran Colombian centre-back has once again been struck down with injury since the opening day of the season clash with Chelsea when he was forced off along with Ben Godfrey.
These incessent injuries have been a theme of Mina’s time on Merseyside ever since his high-profile move from Barcelona back in the summer of 2018.
As a result, Blues’ fans have rarely seen the best of him because whenever he’s got into the side and started playing regular football and showing his quality, it’s been cut short by injury.
This has also adversely impacted on the Toffees’ team over the last few campaigns with Mina being the most imposing and solid of the side’s defenders, when he has been healthy.
Had Everton been able to call on Mina’s services consistently over the last few seasons, it might have made a real positive difference to the outcome of those campaigns.
Anyway, under Frank Lampard and new Director of Football Kevin Thelwell, the club have moved decisively this summer to shore up central defence as a major priority.
In have come James Tarkowski and Conor Coady for free, both of whom have proved to be very good additions and who are currently the starting two at centre-half.
So now, after being at times chronically short of options in central defence, the Blues’ have almost a surfeit of players at their disposal.
Along with Mina, Tarkowski and Coady, Everton also have Godrey, Mason Holgate, Micheal Keane and if necessary Seamus Coleman who can play there.
Given all these options, if a club were to show interest in Mina might the Toffees’ be tempted to cash in on him?
The Colombian’s contract is up next summer and given that he’s a high-earner, is nearly 30 and has that track record of serious injury problems, it would make sense for the club to look at selling him if they’re not considering offering him a new deal.
Alongside this possibility, Everton have of course been linked once more with another central defender with these reports of interest in Rodrigo Becao, a player who was also a rumoured target in the summer.
The Brazilian defender currently plays with Udinese in Italy’s Serie A, the same league that Mina is supposedly moving to.
Becao is apparently stalling on new contract negotiations with his club and they are fearful he has had his head turned by these stories of possible interest from English clubs.
While it may well be true that the Blues’ are ready to sell Mina in January, if the right move materalises, whether that’s Inter or someone else, I don’t think there’s anything substantial to this rumour.