Reuniting with Thomas Vermaelen makes sense for Koeman, but latest injury shows the risk he’d be taking

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Everton are reportedly keen on Barcelona’s Thomas Vermaelen.

Everton’s search for a new defender continues, and speculation over the weekend suggested that the Toffees are keen to sign a former Premier League centre back.

With Ramiro Funes Mori suffering a setback in his recovery from injury and Leighton Baines both advancing in years and suffering from injuries last season, manager Ronald Koeman appears to be in the market for a player who can play at both centre back and left back.

Now, The Sun report that Everton are keen to sign Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen, who many fans will know from his five-year spell with Premier League rivals Arsenal.

Vermaelen, 31, has returned to Barcelona following a loan spell with Roma last season, and with Barca seemingly keen to cash in on the Belgian international three years on from his bizarre move to the Camp Nou, a move back to the Premier League could be on the cards.

A move to Everton does make a lot of sense; Vermaelen not only knows the Premier League, but can play at left back and centre back to fill Everton’s needs right now, whilst he is even familiar with manager Koeman having been handed his Ajax debut by the Dutchman in 2004.

The problem with Vermaelen throughout his career has been injuries, and with Everton fans somewhat concerned about his injury history, Koeman has been handed a clear warning about just how much of a risk Vermaelen would be.

Barcelona confirmed on their official website on Monday that Vermaelen has suffered another injury and is subsequently out of action, with no clear date for his return stated by the Catalan giants.

Vermaelen’s injury problems have been going on for too long now to be simply put down as ‘bad luck’, and given Everton’s concerns over the fitness of Funes Mori and Baines, signing an injury-prone player to cover for them could be a huge gamble from the Toffees, even if Vermaelen does fit the bill otherwise.

Would you like to see Everton sign Vermaelen?