Premier League and Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton have both been linked with Croatia’s World Cup centre-back Domagoj Vida of Besiktas.
Everton are reportedly closing in on the signing of a much needed centre-back.
The Toffees were a shadow of the famously rugged and resilient side that frequently bloodied the big boys’ noses in their David Moyes’ heyday with their back line becoming creakier by the season.
So Everton have moved to rectify this by splashing out on the Barcelona defender Yerry Mina. Goal reports that the Merseyside giants are closing in on a £21 million deal for the Colombian powerhouse, who shone at the World Cup and scored against Poland, Senegal and England in successive games.
But what impact could this have on Everton’s neighbours from across Stanley Park?
Earlier this month, the North West rivals were reportedly locked in a battle to sign another impressive World Cup stalwart, Croatia’s pony-tailed warrior Domagoj Vida, from Besiktas. It was reported by A Spor that Liverpool had offered £12 million at the time in an attempt to beat Everton to the 29-year-old signature.
But have The Toffees just left the door open for their red-clad rivals? Everton’s links with Vida appear to have subsided ever since they started to go all out for Mina, while Liverpool have stepped up their interest in the former Dinamo Kiev man.
Fanatik state that Liverpool have now offered £15.9 million for the World Cup semi-finalist – though they are still some way short of Besiktas’ £31 million valuation.
But with Everton seemingly stepping aside, that is one obstacle out of the way.
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