Everton could solve major defence problem as they enter race to sign €5m Senegalese

Everton are yet to make a signing in the summer transfer window although a move for Ashley Young is mooted to be close to completion. Sean Dyche need to address the lack of squad depth issue and with the possible signing of Fode Ballo-Toure.

Last season, during the business end of the Premier League, when Everton were locked in the battle for survival, Dyche was left with wafer thin squad depth in the full back region. In fact, Everton lined up in their final game of the season, that decided their future in the Premier League, without a full back as James Garner played as a right wing back and Dwight McNeil slotted into the left wing back role.

Seamus Coleman, Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko remained unavailable for the game. While EFC do have two right backs in the squad in Patterson and Coleman, they have just one traditional left back in the team. When Mykolenko was out because of injury, Ben Godfrey did play at left back but wasn’t impressive as his favoured position has been central defence.

Everton interested in Fode Ballo-Toure

EFC sold Lucas Digne in January 2022 and signed Mykolenko. Everton have been operating without a reliable left back backup option for several seasons now. Niels Nkounkou was too young and inexperienced to be considered as a viable backup and he was loaned out last season.

Ruben Vinagre did arrive on loan but he simply did not make a mark in the team and spent majority of the time on the bench. Now he has departed and EFC have no backup left back in the squad. It seems the Toffees are finally addressing the issue as they have been linked to AC Milan’s Ballo-Toure.

According to Foot Mercato (via Sempre Milan), Ballo-Toure is expected to leave Milan this summer and has interest from the Premier League. The Senegalese is attracting attention from Fulham and Everton in England, meanwhile, Bologna and Werder Bremen are also interested from Italy and Germany respectively.

The left back has remained in the shadows of Theo Hernandez and made just 14 appearances for the Rossoneri, amounting to 650 minutes of football. Despite having a contract till 2025, he is destined to leave San Siro this summer with Milan asking at least €5 million for the 26 year old.

The Senegalese joined Milan from AS Monaco in 2021 but never got his career flying because replacing Hernandez or even competing for a role was a challenging task. Perhaps, a move away from Italy will rejuvenate his career and if he moves to Goodison Park, he will act as a deputy to Mykolenko.

Should the Toffees make amove for Fode Ballo-Toure?