Everton are said to be eyeing three more deals before their summer business is complete, so what chance some cover for Leighton Baines?
According to Talk Sport presenter Jim White, in comments made during the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast on (10/07/2017 from 6:00am), Everton want to bring three more players to the club this summer, despite already impressing with their quick-fire transfer business.
It does not take a genius to identify two of the three alleged targets, with a new striker to replace the departing Romelu Lukaku vital and a new play-maker (almost certainly Gylfi Sigurdsson) arriving in due course.
According to the BBC, Swansea City now want £50million for the Iceland international, but it is unlikely Everton would go that high even with the additional cash injection following Lukaku’s big-money move to Manchester United.
However, assuming Everton are successful in further strengthening their attacking options, is the third unnamed target likely to be a left-back and how worried would Toffees fans be if it is not?
After all, while Everton boss Ronald Koeman currently has Leighton Baines, the 32-year-old is not getting any younger and cover in that position could be vital if injuries and suspensions strike.
For all the good work Everton have done in this transfer window, it is not over yet, and while it will be interesting to see how much effort (and cash) it takes to sign Sigurdsson and a new out-and-out striker, the club’s fans are likely to be hoping that the final deal, although less headline-worthy, will be to offer Baines the backup he needs.
Given Koeman’s work so far, one imagines he will not leave anything to chance next season.
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