If reports are to believed, Everton have now joined arch-rivals Liverpool in the pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain’s latest sensation Presnel Kimpembe as Ronald Koeman looks to make his eighth signing of the season. The Ligue 1 defender has come to the fore following some phenomenal displays against top sides last season, and although that couldn’t help PSG win the Ligue 1 or the Champions League, he has caught a lot of attention.
Everton have already brought in Jordan Pickford, Henry Onyekuru, Michael Keane, Davy Klaassen, Wayne Rooney, Sandro Martinez and Cuco Martina so far, which has been their most exciting transfer season in a long time. Fans are looking forward to a cracking contest in the Premier League next season, where they did manage to make a mark last season.
The Toffees finished seventh last season collecting 61 points from 36 games. And this came courtesy their brilliant second-half performances, which made many ponder over their league result had they not faltered in the opening half of the campaign. Everton have found a strong resolve with Koeman at the helm and it was rightly tested when they lost the first choice Ramiro Funes Mori and Seamus Coleman indefinitely to injury in a span of a week.
Koeman had to bring in the aged Phil Jagielka and the former England international did brilliantly to keep their top half position intact. Young Mason Holgate also stepped up to the challenge on the right defensive flank for Coleman. However, Koeman wouldn’t want to play that risky move next season when a lot will be at stake in the Europa League. And this makes their move for Kimpembe all the more interesting.
A centre-half by nature, the 21-year-old can also play as a left back quite comfortably. He broke into PSG’s season midway with Marquinhos injured and established his place alongside Thiago Silva in the central defence. At such a nascent age, his ability to read the game is commendable and it is his phenomenal passing ability that made him a household name in France.
He was thrown onto the biggest stage of the Champions League last season against Barcelona, and he did surprisingly well in that game. Although 183cm, he hasn’t shown much mastery in winning aerial duels, but apart from that, he has shown brilliant technique and composure in the most difficult of situations.
However, neither club will have him easy as PSG are very unlikely to let such a brilliant talent go. And the fact that he has his contract at the club till 2021, makes it all the more complicated.
