According to a recent report by the Daily Mail, Everton are keeping a close eye on Manchester United defenders, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo if they fail to land Kurt Zouma from Chelsea this summer. The same source has also claimed that one of the three Man United centre-halves could be available due to the transfer of Harry Maguire from Leicester City.
How Had Smalling, Jones and Rojo Fared At Old Trafford Last Season?
Both Jones and Rojo were a sporadic presence in the Red Devils first-team in the 2018-19 Premier League season. On the other hand, Smalling was an integral member of the Man United backline in the previous campaign.
He featured in 34 matches for his team while scoring one goal across all competitions. The English centre-back struggled at times defensively but made an average of 1.3 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 4.4 clearances per game in the Premier League (stats via whoscored).
In contrast, Jones and Rojo made 24 and six appearances respectively for Man United last season with both defenders struggling to cope with injuries. Hence, there is no doubt that Smalling would be the ideal choice for the Toffees if they are to choose among one of them in this off-season.
However, a lot will also ride on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s decision on whether he wants to retain any of them beyond this summer. With just days remaining in this transfer window, it won’t be a surprise to see at least one of them leave in search of greener pastures.
Smalling, Jones or Rojo: Who Will Be The Best Fit For Everton?
Rojo has failed to prove his worth on the pitch over the past few campaigns. The Argentine centre-half’s time has been plagued with injuries since his arrival from Sporting CP in the summer of 2014. Everton can’t rely on him if they are looking to compete on all fronts next season.
However, both Smalling and Jones could flourish if given a chance to play regularly under the expert stewardship of Marco Silva next season. Both players have what it takes to be a success story at Goodison Park. If given a choice, the Toffees would be wise to make Smalling their top priority if they miss out on Kurt Zouma this summer.
