Everton have been linked with two fullbacks currently plying their trades in other parts of Europe. They are two vastly different players, both in terms of their skillsets and the way they'll be available to Everton should they want to make the signings happen.
Each link comes with its own pros and cons, including the method by which they can be acquired and whether the player is a good fit for Everton.
Link 1: A versatile defender with an offensive-minded skillset
The first link is with Anthony Caci who is playing at Mainz in the Bundesliga. The Frenchman has been with the club since 2022, having previously played for Strasbourg in his home country since he was 19.
Caci is a versatile player, lining up not only as a rightback, but also as a wingback, centerback, and defensive midfielder last year for the German club. The majority of his pitch time came as a wingback, which explains why his scouting report numbers via FBRef are very high on the offensive end and less than inspiring as a defender.
The Frenchman will turn 28 on July 1, so he's a little on the older side, but his age would still allow him to step into a role with Everton for a considerable longer time.
The idea might be that Caci could become the new Ashley Young, as he also has experience playing leftback during his time in France with Strasbourg.
The fit, however, would be an interesting one, assuming that David Moyes wants to maintain his rather rigid formation decisions. However, if the Everton manager was willing to change things up, Caci would be an immediate upgrade to the Scot's options.
Everton certainly need help on the right side, and having a player with Caci's level of versatility would be helpful, but with Fulham also reportedly monitoring the situation, the question would be whether his fit would be best with the Toffees.
At a €10 million price tag, however, Caci might be an interesting option for Everton if they think he can be a starter at multiple positions.
Link 2: An older depth option at leftback
The second link is to Nicolas Tagliafico, a leftback who is set to be out of contract at Lyon at the end of June.
Like Caci, Tagliafico has shown himself to be an adept offensive player, but his defensive numbers are a lot more interesting in terms of giving Everton a more modern fit at leftback.
While Everton have a solid player at the position in Vitalii Mykolenko, the Ukrainian international is very limited going forward, and while he can be a good defensive player on his day, he also has matches where he looks overwhelmed.
He's also the only leftback on Everton's squad, which explains the link to Tagliafico. The tricky part about the Argentine is that he'll turn 33 at the end of August, making him more of a stopgap depth piece than a long term replacement for the 26-year-old Mykolenko.
But as a player available on a free, he'd be a good player to bring on, especially as someone who could connect with Charly Alcaraz, another Argentine who Everton will want to continue to make feel at home on Merseyside.
Tagliafico would offer a more offensive-minded option at leftback, giving Moyes an opportunity to change up the formation when the Toffees match up against lesser opponents.
Of the two options, Tagliafico seems to be the more likely option, if only because he can fill a clear depth need and is available on a free. Caci would be interesting, but may not be the best fit for the squad Moyes is building, even if he can play multiple positions.