According to German news outlet, BILD, Everton are among the host of Premier League outfits interested for Hertha Berlin fullback, Marvin Plattenhardt. The Toffees are looking for a successor to Leighton Baines in the left-back position and the German international could be a long-term answer.
The Toffees ownership have already shelled out £200m this past season to bring in prestigious names. Farhad Moshiri has agreed to do the same this summer in order to better implement Marco Silva’s plans into the side. The return on their previous investments has been well below par, under the leadership of Ronald Koeman and Sam Allardyce in the 2017/18 season.
Allardyce managed to save the side from relegation but could not climb any higher than the 8th spot in the Premier League. Change is expected to be delivered swiftly by the former Watford boss. Leighton Baines is 33 now and is slowly entering the final stages of his footballing career. Everton need the legs of a younger and more athletic figure to share the Englishman’s workload through a regular season.
Last season, when Baines went down to an injury, Rhu-Endly Cuco Martina filled in as a makeshift option and did a decent job while at it. However, the lack of a dominant left foot or the pace to make overlapping runs always kept the Toffees in a severe disadvantage.
Plattenhardt is one of the best fullbacks in the Bundesliga who has earned himself a place in the highly talented Germany squad. The 26-year-old played the first group stage game in the 2018 FIFA World Cup against Mexico while Jonas Hector tended to an injury. He has 7 caps for Germany and 56 for the youth sides, ranging from the U17s to the U21s. He also has made 121 appearances for Hertha during which he has registered 5 goals and 18 assists.
Plattenhardt started out his career with FC Nuremberg, making 66 appearances in total and later moved permanently to the Olympiastadion Berlin in the summer of 2014. According to Transfermarkt, his contract is set to run for another 5 seasons with the Bundesliga outfit.
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Everton have the funds to chase the in-form left-back while also making additions to other areas of the pitch. Jonas Hector is still the cemented starter under Joachim Low in the national side despite his team getting relegated to the second division. Getting the Premier League spotlight could help Plattenhardt make a strong case for more international selections as well.
