Everton are targeting Crystal Palace’s James Tomkins but would these Burnley, Brighton or Huddersfield centre-backs be better choices?
James Tomkins of Crystal Palace tackles Maxim Choupo-Moting of Stoke City during the Premier League match at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace centre-back James Tomkins is rumoured by the Sun to be Sam Allardyce’s first signing as Everton manager when the January transfer window opens.
Tomkins worked under Allardyce at Palace and has been linked with a £20m move to join him at Goodison Park, but are there other Premier League players in the position who would be a better choice?
Here are three potentials.
Christopher Schindler of Huddersfield Town during the Premier League match against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Christopher Schindler
After a strong start defensively things have been a little shaky at the back of late for Huddersfield Town, but Schindler still remains a dominant figure.
The 27-year-old has made the step up from the Championship with ease and could help to organise what has been an unsteady backline for the Toffees at times this season.
Shane Duffy
An academy graduate from the Merseyside club, Duffy left permanently in the summer of 2014 having played ten first team games to join Blackburn Rovers.
A switch to current side Brighton and Hove Albion followed, whom he helped to promotion to the top tier in 2016/17 and has been ever present this time around.
Gaetan Bong of Brighton and Hove Albion and Ben Mee of Burnley battle for possession during the Premier League match at Amex Stadium.
Ben Mee
Michael Keane has struggled to rediscover the form he showed at Burnley following a summer move to Everton, but is that perhaps because the 24-year-old no longer has Mee alongside him?
The Clarets’ defensive record in the English top flight this campaign of 12 goals conceded is the best in the division, only matched by top two Manchester City and Manchester United.
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