Ronald Koeman was Southampton’s manager when the club sold Calum Chambers.
Calum Chambers has spent this season on loan at Middlesbrough
Everton are said to be considering a move to sign Arsenal defender Calum Chambers, according to the Mirror, but could their manager’s history with the player prove problematic?
The Gunners bought Chambers from Southampton in 2014, when current Everton boss Ronald Koeman had just taken charge of the Saints, and he did not appear concerned at losing the then 19-year-old.
In fact, the BBC even reported that he referred to the £16 million the club received for Chambers as a “present” because the player hadn’t featured in his plans anyway.
Given the defender has, after initially impressing in his first Arsenal appearances, struggled to establish a role for himself and been loaned out to a team dwelling in the Premier League’s relegation zone, it seems strange that Koeman’s opinion of him has improved.
One thing that could have changed his mind is the fact Chambers has played most of his football in the intervening years at centre-back, whereas when he departed Koeman’s Southampton his experience of first team football was exclusively at right-back.
Chambers tracks Dele Alli as Mauricio Pochettino, the man who gave him his league debut, looks on
And his adeptness at both centre-back and fullback, which should mean he’s suited to playing on the side of a back three – a system Koeman has sometimes used this season – should also appeal.
However, if Everton are serious about wanting Chambers, it seems unlikely that their manager’s previous attitude toward the player will help their cause.
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