Everton were quoted £60 million for Koulibaly, but on-loan Leeds United man could be a cheaper alternative.
Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has confirmed via Talksport this week that the club did try to sign Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly this summer, but were quoted £60 million for the Senegal defender.
With Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams both well into their thirties and Ramiro Funes Mori neither convincing nor particularly keen to stick around it seems, the chances are the Toffees will look to sign another centre-half in the coming transfer windows.
But could the answer for Ronald Koeman’s side also be Italian-owned?
Torino’s Pontus Jansson is currently bossing it for Leeds United in England’s Championship, where he is on loan until the end of the campaign. The 25-year-old, a full international for Sweden, has won seven of his 11 league games for the Whites and is already a firm favourite among fans, thanks to his aggressive-yet-stylish approach to defending.
Jansson is arguably the second tier’s answer to Virgil van Dijk – a player signed for Southampton by Everton’s manager Ronald Koeman – although the way he’s going, he’ll outgrow that level fairly sharpish.
The first reports of Premier League interest emerged at the weekend, with Watford said to be keen. And although Jansson insists his only wish is to sign a permanent deal at Elland Road, Leeds fans will have heard similar before I’m sure.
With Moshiri’s money, Everton are once again equipped to turn heads – as they have already done with Koeman – and could outmuscle most Premier League rivals if it came down to it. That said, Torino have done well in Jansson’s absence and are unlikely to ask the Earth.
A deal is already in place to sell six-foot-five centre-back to Leeds for around £3 million once he has payed 20 games for the Yorkshire side, however, outside bidding is sure to exceed that.
As it stands, Jansson is not due to trigger that clause until the New Year, giving potential suitors a chance to pounce, although a January deal is likely to require each party’s blessing – including that of Leeds United – which could make things tricky.
Still, it can’t hurt for Everton to make an enquiry.
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