Everton are reported to be the latest club who have joined the race to bring in the in-demand Dutch defender Mathijs De Ligt from Ajax. The player has been one of the most sought-after properties in the current scenario with a number of clubs from all over Europe vying to secure his signature this summer.
The Toffees had a forgettable outing in the last season, which saw them vying to get out of the relegation zone in the early stages of the season. However, after the sacking of their former manager Ronald Koeman, the players revived the season under the tutelage of the “crisis man” Sam Allardyce and finished at the 8th place in the league table.
Allardyce was also shown the door after the end of the last season and Marco Silva has been brought into the side to lead them to glory in the next term. The Portuguese is known to be a tactical genius and is expected to guide the Merseyside club to new heights with assistance from Everton’s Iranian owner Farhad Moshiri.
Moshiri is known to be a spendthrift when it comes to acquiring transfer targets on his wishlist and currently, his wishlist consists of one of the prodigal youngsters in European football in the form of the 18-year-old Dutchman. Though the player has a contract with Ajax that runs till 2021, the Toffees are set to make a move for him in order to lure him to Goodison Park.
The Toffees have faced heavy criticism for their lack of composure in every department in the last season, especially the defence, which has conceded unnecessary goals and despite the best efforts of the England number.1 Jordan Pickford, the defenders have let him down big time.
It is a problem that needs to be addressed with immediate effect and De Ligt can be a very good option for the Everton management to consider. The player has shown that he has a very matured head on his shoulders and his ability to take the right decision at the right moment can be the key to success for the Toffees in the next season.
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With the veteran defenders like Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams coming towards the end of their careers, there is an urgent need for the Merseyside club to find the right partner for Michael Keane to lead the backline in the near future. Though Mason Holgate did a decent job in the last season as a makeshift centre-back, a seasoned defender is always a better option as Silva will surely not look to leave anything to chances. This is where De Ligt fits perfectly into the picture for the Toffees.
