According to reports, Everton are very close to completing their first signing of the season in Southampton’s Cuco Martina as manager Ronald Koeman looks to give enough time to Seamus Coleman in his recovery. The 27-year-old Curacao International was one of Koeman’s finds during his stint at St. Mary’s.
An untimely injury to their ace full-back had left the Toffees dangerously thin at the back in the closing stages of last season, and Koeman wouldn’t want such a scenario to arise next season. Thanks to 20-year-old Mason Holgate, who did brilliantly to hold the right back’s role despite playing out of position and Martina comes essentially as a competition for the English centre-half.
Everton have a brilliant defensive record in the second half of last season and the likes of Phil Jagielka and Holgate played significant roles when Everton lost Coleman and Ramiro Funes-Mori consecutively in the closing months. Replacing Coleman was definitely the bigger challenge as the Irish international has been one of Everton’s star players scoring four goals and assisting the same from the back.
While Holgate couldn’t give the same attacking dimension to Everton’s game from the right-flank, he kept it secured and organised for most of the part. Martina will definitely be an upgrade to that given his pace on the ball and ability to take stupendous long shots from outside the box. He came to the limelight for his out worldly curler against Arsenal two seasons back when Koeman was the manager.
He had made 14 starts under Koeman in the 2015-16 campaign and he could only start 15 games under Claude Puel. The French manager has been more impressed by Cedric Soares in that position, who is definitely a level up over Martina with his world class composure on the ball. However, Martina still remains an impact player for the Dutch manager, who could come in handy in their Europa League campaign.
An academy product of SC Feyenoord, Martina has played for many lower tier Dutch sides like RBC Roosendaal, RKC Waalwijk before returning to the top flight again as FC Twente Enschede bought him in 2013. Two impressive seasons there and Southampton brought him in 2015.
Since making his debut for the national side in 2011, Martina has been a regular for them being capped 27 times so far. A right back by nature, Martina can also play the central role as comfortably, which further explains Koeman’s haste in bringing him to Goodison Park.
