Shkodran Mustafi’s career has gone from strength to strength since leaving Everton.
Manchester United are one of the last clubs whose lead Everton would usually look to follow, but the Toffees could benefit from mimicking their north west rivals’ latest move.
I’m not saying Everton should bid £100 million (plus) for Paul Pogba, rather, they should put right a mistake of their own.
Pogba could be heading back to Manchester
United, of course, are not the only club to have shed a future star from their ranks in 2012, completely free of charge. Shkodran Mustafi was Everton’s oversight.
Four years on, the Valencia defender’s stock has reached almost unimaginable heights (if your name is David Moyes at least) – a World Cup winner regarded as one of La Liga’s best players.
Mustafi (number 2) celebrates scoring at Euro 2016 with his Germany teammates
According to the Mirror, he is available for €25 million (£21 million) this summer, with Arsenal listed possible as suitors.
Such an outlay is nothing to new Everton, who were granted membership to the billionaire boys club earlier this summer and are set to receive around £50 million for a defender of their own – John Stones.
£21 million is roughly half of what the papers think it will cost to sign Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, and only £5 million more than what we at HITC Sport understand has been offered to Sunderland for Lamine Kone.
Koulibably has been linked with both Everton and Chelsea
Provided he wants to come back, Mustafi could be the marquee signing supposedly sought by Everton owner Farhad Moshiri.
We all make mistakes – some of which can still be rectified.
Moshiri is yet to deliver a major signing for Everton
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