According to a recent report by the Daily Mail, Real Madrid are plotting a move to sign Maarten Stekelenburg from Everton if Keylar Navas decides to leave the Spanish capital before the transfer deadline on September 2nd. The same source has also stated that Navas has caught the attention of Paris Saint-Germain after losing his first-team place to Thibaut Courtois last season.
Can Stekelenburg Still Be A Decent Back-Up Keeper?
Zinedine Zidane will need an experienced backup for Courtois if Navas parts ways with the Galacticos this summer, so Stekelenburg fits the bill perfectly. The Dutch goalkeeper is vastly experienced and can still be a decent number two for any elite club. He has lost his way at Everton and is currently on the fringes of the Toffees squad.
The 30-year-old is Marco Silva’s third-choice keeper behind Jordan Pickford and Jonas Lossl after failing to prove his worth at Goodison Park over the past few seasons.
Since making a switch from Fulham in the summer of 2016, Stekelenburg has gone on to make 26 appearances for Everton, conceding 31 goals while keeping seven clean sheets across all competitions. He has also earned 58 international caps for the Netherlands during his career.
What Does The Dutch Custodian Offer On The Pitch?
Stekelenburg is a well-rounded keeper who can distribute the ball accurately from the back. The Dutch goalie is renowned for his shot-stopping and has decent reflexes to pull off a few world-class saves when called into action. However, he is way past his prime and is currently enjoying the twilight years of his playing career.
Should The Toffees Sell Him Before The Transfer Deadline?
Therefore, Everton would do well to cash in on him this summer. Stekelenburg is in the final year of his contract at Goodison Park. Hence, the Toffees will benefit from his sale as they will be guaranteed a cut-price fee and would also be able to save money on his wages for this campaign.
Silva proved that Stekelenburg was not in his first-team plans for the new campaign when he brought in Lossl earlier this summer. Hence, it makes sense for both the player and the club to mutually part ways if Real Madrid’s interest in the Dutch keeper is genuine this summer.
