Everton manager Ronald Koeman knows Cuco Martina well from their time at Southampton – and they could work together again at Goodison Park.
Everton finishing the season in seventh and qualifying for the Europa League was probably par for the course in Ronald Koeman’s first campaign at the helm. The club wouldn’t have expected anything less and breaking into the top six is probably a medium, rather than short-term, ambition.
Therefore, it’s expected that Everton will make full use of their new-found financial muscle this summer. Nonetheless, it appears that the club’s first signing of the window may be an out-of-contract defender rather than a multi-million marquee superstar.
The Guardian reports that Everton have held talks with Cuco Martina, the Southampton right-back brought to the South Coast by Koeman from FC Twente in the summer of 2015.
The 27-year-old Curacao international is expected to leave St Mary’s in the summer when he becomes a free agent and could be an astute understudy for Seamus Coleman as he recovers from that horrific broken leg.
Martina may have only been trusted to start six Premier League games under current Saints boss Claude Puel but he demonstrated in his one season under Koeman that he can be a solid defender at this level.
Furthermore, that swerving, Roberto Carlos inspired wondergoal against Arsenal on Boxing Day 2015 showcases his ability to wreak havoc at the other end too.
And The Guardian add that Martina’s experience, and ability to play at centre-back, has convinced Koeman that he would be a good addition.
The Sun reported recently that Everton had identified Tottenham’s £12 million-rated Kieran Trippier as a potential replacement for Coleman but it was always unlikely that he would jump from being an understudy at Spurs to take on a similar role at Goodison Park.
Everton’s Seamus Coleman could be out until the end of 2017
Therefore, nabbing Martina on a free makes sense. Koeman knows and trusts him, plus it would save funds to reinforce elsewhere.
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