A report emerged last year claiming that Everton were interested in Pape Abou Cisse. They scouted him extensively over the next few months, and if a recent tweet of Greek football journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos is to be believed, the Toffees have rekindled interest in the Senegalese centre-half for a potential summer transfer.
The club went through turmoil the last term even though they scripted a relegation escape late in the campaign. The gaffer Frank Lampard must reinstate the lost pride at Goodison Park, and the proposed takeover might bring new dawn after years of anguish and despair.
Everton have spent millions in the recent past but failed miserably to achieve season objectives. It’s high time for them to spend wisely and restore depth as well as quality across the pitch.
The 26-year-old Senegal international progressed through the youth ranks of AS Pikine back in his homeland. There he made a few first-team appearances before joining Ligue 2 outfit Ajaccio following a successful trial. The spell in France helped him make his name in the European circuit, which eventually saw him plying his trade to Olympiacos back in the summer of 2017.
While he eventually grabbed a regular role for the Greek giants, a return to France did not work out though after joining Saint-Étienne on loan midway through the previous campaign. They did not exercise the option-to-buy clause, and the defender returned to his parent club for the 2021-22 season.
Why Everton Must Pursue This Signing
Cisse not only played a pivotal role in Olympiacos’ Super League triumph but also featured for Senegal in their AFCON victory earlier this year. He went on to make 40 club appearances across competitions and exhibited his scoring expertise by firing in 6 times. His physical and aerial supremacy grabbed attention, and the Toffees are keen on bolstering themselves defensively, having conceded 66 goals in their disastrous Premier League season.
Meanwhile, Everton have four central defensive options in their ranks, with Michael Keane, Ben Godfrey, Yerry Mina and Mason Holgate all being rotated to figure out the best possible combination. The latter, however, impressed more as a deep-lying playmaker, whereas the persistent injury woes have refrained Mina from appearing week in, week out.
Neither Godfrey nor Keane has been consistent enough, and the Merseysiders must snap up someone who could offer his leadership traits from the back. Cisse fits the bill given his no-nonsense defending, and it remains to be seen whether the Toffees step up the chase to rope him in.
