According to reports, Premier League side Everton are more than likely to return for FC Porto centre half Ivan Marcano in the winter after the Toffees failed to work up a last-minute deal on the final day of the recent transfer window. However, the Portuguese side is hell bent on binding the player to a new contract before it expires next season.
Ronald Koeman will be more than happy with the way things have gone for him in the transfer window as well as in the European campaign. On the domestic front, the Merseyside club will have to work a lot more on the new combinations as they found themselves easily pushed into the back foot by Chelsea in the last game.
After winning the opening game against Stoke City, the Toffees lost a one goal lead at the Etihad late in the game and lost to Chelsea next. Given the kind of money Farhad Moshiri has invested in the side over the summer, the owner will hope things start working out fast.
Koeman managed to bring in two proven enforcers early in the transfer window in Michael Keane from Burnley and Cuco Martina from Southampton. However, the Toffees are still short of defensive options as Roberto Funes Mori and Seamus Coleman, remain out for long. Another arrival at the back was planned with Everton interested in Thomas Vermaelen from Barcelona and Jairo Riedewald from Ajax.
However, they failed to get either of them, finally turning attention at the last moment to Marcano, who is known for his versatility at the back. The 30-year-old ends his FC Porto stint next June but will be allowed to sign a pre-contract in the winter or FC Porto might even sell him.
The academy product of Spanish side Racing Santander, Marcano made his first big move to Villarreal as a 23-year-old, who decided to loan him out after a season. Following that he spent many loan stints with clubs like Spanish side Getafe CF, Greek side Olympiacos and Russian side Rubin Kazan before FC Porto bought him in 2014.
Although the Santander-born could never really make it into Spain’s first team, he has been quite a regular for the clubs he has played for his disciplined defending and ability to read the game. He has played over 100 games for Porto now and has even registered eight goals and four assists in the process.
Despite having Luke Garbutt as a backup for the evergreen Leighton Baines, Everton would want a more quality option in that role and Marcano’s ability makes him all the more desirable. Is he the right man for the Toffees?
