There’s nothing inherently wrong with relying heavily on one single player. But when that one player has an injury record like Yerry Mina’s, that’s when you start to run into problems.
Everton lost just twice on the eight occasions that their giant Colombian centre-back completed the full 90 minutes last season. But, on the 25 other occasions when Mina was either left on the bench or unavailable due to injury, the Toffees found themselves on the losing side a staggering 17 times.
What’s more, they conceded nearly two goals a game on average without Mina shoring things up at the back.
So, with that in mind, you may be wondering why, according to The Express, Everton are willing to consider offers for Mina as he enters the final 12 months of his contract. Tuttomercatoweb add the Merseyside giants may even accept less than £12 million.
Yerry Mina out, Joe Rodon in at Everton?
But the problem is not with Mina’s ability. It’s with his availability. The former Barcelona man is Everton’s finest defender. But he’s also their most injury-prone. Since arriving from the Camp Nou for an eye-watering £28 million after the 2018 World Cup, he’s never started more than 25 league games in a single season. What’s more, Mina has missed almost 50 matches during that time, thanks to a whole variety of injuries and ailments.
When fit, Mina is one of the first names on Everton’s team-sheet. He is more than deserving of his status as the club’s highest-earner, on £120,000-a-week (Spotrac). But, as the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Rafa Benitez and Frank Lampard have found out the hard way, keeping Mina fit often feels like an impossible task.
No wonder Everton are in the market for a replacement. Some have suggested that James Tarkowski, who should be unveiled this week following his arrival from Burnley, would take Mina’s spot at the back.
Tarkowski alone will not be enough to fix an Everton defence that was breached 13 times more often than relegated Burnley last term, however. Michael Keane endured a torrid campaign, Ben Godfrey’s form fell off a cliff while Mason Holgate continues to divide Evertonians. Tarkowski’s centre-back partner, whoever that will be, should also be an outside hire.
Tarkowski and who else?
Rodrigo Becao, a £17 million-rated man mountain of a defender who plies his trade in Italy with Udinese, has been sounded out, according to The Mirror. So too Joe Rodon of Tottenham Hotspur (talkSPORT). Then there’s Moussa Niakhate of Mainz (The Telegraph).
A trio of old-school centre-halves who, like Mina, are at their most effective when throwing their bodies on the line or putting their giant frames to good use. Everton tended to crack under the most minimal of pressure last term but Becao, Niakhate and particularly Rodon – who has blossomed into a talismanic presence for the Welsh national team, helping Rob Page’s side secure creditable results against superior opposition – are three players who tend to thrive with their backs against the wall.
“I really enjoyed working with Joe,” FAW technical director David Adams tells The Coach’s Voice.
“He’s already a fantastic player and he will only get better. His mentality is fantastic, his work ethic was amazing, and he was just a joy to coach. He was ready to buy in to anything you proposed.”
Younger, cheaper and most importantly fitter than Yerry Mina, there’s a lot for Everton to like about Rodon.
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