Everton may be kicking themselves if £17m ace joins Arsenal in January

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At this stage, the lure of the Premier League cannot really be questioned.  

We live in a world, after all, when a four-time Europa League winner jumps at the opportunity to take over a seemingly relegation-threatened Aston Villa. Where a newly-promoted Nottingham Forest can lure the best player in Brazil to the City Ground. 

So reports suggesting that Rodrigo Becao would turn down Inter Milan in favour of a potential £17 million move to England’s top flight, then, is merely a continuation of that trend (Tuttosport).  

The 26-year-old centre-half believes, per Tutto Udinese, that English football would be the ideal place for him to continue his impressive development. The late-blooming giant has made a huge impact at the Stadio Friuli.

Arsenal and West Ham United are interested. As are Tottenham Hotspur; his colossal displays on the right of Udinese’s back-three suggesting that the rangy Brazilian would have few problems adapting to Antonio Conte’s system in North London. 

But, according Fabrizio Romano, one club Becao looks unlikely to join is arguably the one that needs him the most.  

Arsenal and Spurs like Rodrigo Becao but do Everton need him the most?

“Everton were interested in signing Rodrigo Becao during the summer,” Romano says. “But (the Toffees) have since cooled their interest. What I can tell you is that he was an option for Everton last summer. But it’s gone quiet now.” 

Perhaps Frank Lampard feels that, with James Tarkowski and Conor Coady now at his disposal, Everton would be better off spending their money elsewhere. This argument, however, misses a rather important point. 

Take Tarkowski and Coady out of the XI, and suddenly Everton are back to the error-strewn, Bambi-on-ice backline that very nearly cost them their Premier League status in 2021/22. During the humiliating 4-1 EFL Cup defeat to Bournemouth, Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and the hapless Mason Holgate provided a timely and rather brutal reminder as to why they have been trusted to start just four Premier League games between them this season. 

According to 90Min, both Keane and Mine may find themselves up for sale, too, in the near future.

£17 million would, of course, represent a substantial outlay. Especially for a player who, with Tarkowski and Coady fit, may not necessarily get into Everton’s first XI. Particularly with Lampard favouring a flat-back four in recent months.  

But, as that Bournemouth debacle shows, Everton are potentially just one injury or suspension away from disaster. Their interest in Becao might have ‘cooled’ but there’s still time for things to heat up again.