Jeremy Pied’s injury could scupper Everton’s move for Southampton defender Cuco Martina.
Southampton’s Cuco Martina in action with Tottenham’s Danny Rose
According to the Daily Echo, Southampton are left in a dilemma over Cuco Martina’s future after Jeremy Pied was ruled out with knee ligament damage.
Pied, who followed manager Claude Puel from Nice to Southampton this summer, was snapped up as cover for first-choice right back Cedric Soares – but manager Puel has been dealt a huge blow with Pied’s injury.
Southampton’s Cuco Martina in action with Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling
The Frenchman has suffered cruciate ligament damage, meaning he will now undergo surgery, and is expected to be ruled out for around six months.
The news has a major impact on Cuco Martina, who may now be needed at St. Mary’s Stadium to provide cover for Cedric whilst Pied recovers from his devastating injury.
The Daily Echo report that Everton have offered £2.5m for Martina, as manager Ronald Koeman looks to reunite with the Curacao international and make him the Toffees’ backup for Seamus Coleman – but those plans are now up in the air.
Jeremy Pied in action for Nice against Lyon’s Mathieu Valbuena
Martina, 26, signed for the Saints from Twente last summer and made 15 appearances in the Premier League last season, scoring one goal – the stunning goal of the season contender against Arsenal on Boxing Day.
Relegated to third choice right back after Pied’s arrival, many expected Martina to complete the £2.5m move to Goodison Park and join up with Koeman again, but his future may yet lie on the South Coast.
Everton’s Leon Osman in action with Southampton’s Cuco Martina
The report states that Southampton think the £2.5m offer is great business, given that they paid just £1m to sign Martina last summer, and factoring in that he isn’t part of Puel’s plans.
However, if they let the Koeman favourite reunite with his former Saints boss at Goodison Park, that would leave Southampton short of cover at the back, unless they can find a loan alternative before Wednesday’s deadline – meaning Martina’s move to Merseyside is now in doubt having once seemed like a formality.
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