Premier League strugglers Everton are scouting Fenerbahce giant Kim Min-Jae as Frank Lampard looks to bring some much-needed defensive reinforcements to Goodison Park, as reported by Fanatik.
The victory wasn’t the most surprising aspect of Everton’s triumph over Manchester United last weekend.
The most criminally-underperforming side in European football swapped their studs for sandals a long time ago, after all, dreaming of sun, sea and sand as a top-four finish drifts into obscurity.
No. The most surprising aspect was the clean sheet. Everton had succeeded in keeping the opposition off the scoresheet just twice since early November before United arrived at Goodison Park.
What’s more, no team in the whole of England’s top flight had made more mistakes that have led directly to goals than a pratfalling Toffees side.
Only time will tell whether that dramatic 1-0 victory over an insipid United side is the start of a late-season resurgence or merely another false dawn.
Either way, even if Everton do survive the dreaded drop, the summer cannot come soon enough for a club crying out for reinforcements at the back.
Can Everton sign their own Virgil van Dijk?
According to Fanatik, Everton sent scouts to watch Fenerbahce for the second time this season during Sunday’s 2-0 Istanbul derby victory over Galatasaray.
And they were, the report says, ‘amazed’ by the performance of Kim Min-Jae. A 6ft 3ins ‘monster’ of a centre-half who’s towering frame and raking diagonals have earned comparisons with a certain Virgil van Dijk.
Kim completed eight clearances in the sort of colossal, backs-against-the-wall, body-on-the-line display. The sort of performance that has looked beyond the likes of Michael Keane in 2021/22.
Everton were first linked with Kim back in 2020, via The Guardian. He was still plying his trade in China for Beijing Guoan at the time. A move to England would see the 25-year-old follow in the footsteps of compatriot and close friend Heung-Min Son.
Interestingly, Son encouraged Tottenham to bring Kim to North London during the reign of Jose Mourinho.
“There is a great interest in our five or six of our players,” admits Fenerbahce president Ali Koc.
“Jose Mourinho wanted Kim Min-Jae a year ago. They did not pay the 14 million euros (around £12 million).”
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