Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Swansea and Leicester want Kara Mbodji – but not Everton for some reason.
There is no shortage of Premier League clubs who have made their interest in Anderlecht centre-back Kara Mbodji clear.
The 6ft 3ins powerhouse’s agent, Ediz Balkan, told Turkish Football on Friday that a number of top flight clubs had been in talks with the Belgian side about potentially signing Mbodji in the January transfer window.
The report identifies those as Newcastle United, Leicester, Swansea City, Crystal Palace and Brighton.
Everton, however, are conspicuous by their absence – despite being burdened with the second-worst defensive record in the Premier League so far in 2017/18.
Turkish Football adds that Anderlecht would rather not sell one of their key players midway through the season. An offer of around £10 million, however, could tempt them to part with the 49-cap Senegalese international.
Needless to say £10 million is pocket change for an Everton side who spent around £140 million seemingly making their squad worse in the summer. But for all that expenditure, The Toffees still lack an authoritative defensive presence.
Michael Keane looks a bag of nerves, Phil Jagielka is ageing fast and the less said about Ashley Williams (below) the better. Ramiro Funes Mori, meanwhile, is not due back for some time thanks to a long-term injury.
27-year-old Mbodji, however, is an aggressive and commanding centre-back who could add some much needed muscle in an Everton defence that has looked softer than melted marshmallow at times this season.
Mbodji kept Zlatan Ibrahimovic quiet during Anderlecht’s Europa League quarter-final against Manchester United last season – so in a way he has aced his Premier League audition.
As it stands, however, it seems that Everton have already fallen behind five clubs with Mbodji set to be hot property in the New Year.
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