According to a recent report by the Turkish news outlet Takvim, Everton are willing to pay up to €15m for Galatasaray centre-back Christian Luyindama. The same source has also revealed that the Toffees will face stiff competition from West Ham United, Udinese, Fiorentina and Atalanta in pursuit of the Super Lig defender.
Luyindama’s Injury Ravaged Season In The Turkish Top-Flight
The Congolese talent has endured an injury-ridden spell at the Türk Telekom Stadium after missing out on several matches due to a cruciate ligament rupture. He has featured in 15 games for the Turkish outfit this term, playing just over 1300 minutes of football across all competitions.
The 26-year-old has averaged 2.0 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 3.9 clearances per game in the Super Lig and the UEFA Champions League this season which goes to show his growing influence at the heart of Fatih Terim’s backline (stats via whoscored).
Luyindama has also earned seven senior caps for the Democratic Republic of Congo national team and will be expected to play an important role for his country in the upcoming 2021 African Cup of Nations. Maybe a change of scenery this summer could be ideal for him at this stage of his playing career as it will allow him to reignite his career away from Istanbul.
What Does The Congolese Defender Offer On The Pitch?
Luyindama has decent pace in his locker. However, what makes the defender such a powerful presence inside his penalty box is an incredible upper body strength that enables him to win a lot of headers at the back. The Congolese defender can also make some well-timed tackles and excels at scanning the danger to pull off a few crucial last-gasp clearances for his side.
Is Luyindama The Right Fit For The Merseyside Club?
The Toffees need to strengthen their defensive options if they are to challenge for a top 6 place in the Premier League next season. For that to happen, Carlo Ancelotti would require a strong bench which is why it makes a lot of sense for the Italian tactician to make a move for Luyindama during the summer transfer window. He will not only increase competition for places within the Everton squad but will also provide Ancelotti with the freedom to experiment with new formations in the next campaign.
The Merseyside outfit has often switched between a 4-4-2 and a 3-5-2 set-up under Ancelotti’s tutelage so they would be wise to add another solid centre-back to their ranks before the start of the new season. However, Luyindama’s recent run with injuries makes him a slight concern as the Toffees cannot afford to risk signing another injury-prone player.
