Everton will be in the market for a new centre back this summer, and one big name has now been linked.
Mason Holgate has impressed, but Michael Keane and Yerry Mina remain inconsistent and Jarrad Branthwaite is still a youngster.
Now, Mundo Deportivo claim that Everton are considering a loan move for Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti.
It’s claimed that Everton are in the race for Umtiti alongside Arsenal and West Ham United, with Barcelona keen to get him out on loan with a purchase option.
The Frenchman was once an absolute mainstay of the Barcelona defence, and he also won the World Cup with France in 2018.
However, the 26-year-old has suffered major injury problems in recent times, and has only managed 33 appearances for Barca in two years since that World Cup win.
Umtiti would at least be able to join former Barca teammates Yerry Mina, Lucas Digne and Andre Gomes at Everton, but fans don’t seem keen on the idea of him arriving.
Many are worried about Umtiti’s injury record, urging Everton to ‘swerve him’ whilst begging them ‘not to make this mistake’.
Some compared him to Mina in that he could be missing for large of chunks of the season, and believe it’s a risk that Everton just can’t take despite Umtiti’s quality.
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