According to reports, Everton are weighing up a bid for Southampton’s full-back Cuco Martina as they look to plug in the huge gap left by the horrific injury of their right-back, Seamus Coleman.
The Irishman suffered a broken leg in the last international break when he clashed with Neil Taylor in a stalemate with Wales last month. The 28-year-old is scheduled to be out until next November after undergoing a surgery in Dublin.
The season has been a mixed bag for the new boss Ronald Koeman. Despite the Dutch manager delivering one of the best seasons in his first try, the Merseyside club seem destined to lose some of their key players and Coleman’s injury only worsens it. The urgent need for a right-back was definitely not there in Everton’s transfer list until a few weeks back with the board deeply concerned with the contract situation of Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley.
Now, with the club in with a real chance of landing a European spot next season, they are out of quality personnel at their disposal. Coleman was in the form of his life this season, scoring four and assisting the same in 26 outings. He was a real driving force on that right flank and getting him back with the season halfway gone could prove to be quite fruitless as his settling time also needs to be taken into account.
It is very difficult to determine whether Cuco Martina could hold on to the mast in Coleman’s absence. The Dutch international hasn’t had the most impressive of seasons so far. Failing to impress his manager, Claude Puel has opted to use him just nine times in the league. His only positive influence came through an assist in Southampton’s futile Europa League campaign.
An academy product of Feyenoord, Martina came up the ranks of Dutch side RBC Roosendaal and RKC Waalwijk, before FC Twente picked him up in 2013. Two impressive seasons there and Southampton bought him in 2015. And Koeman seemed to have brought out the best of him as he was an instant hit during his stint as the manager of Southampton.
Puel seems to have lost confidence in him and with his contract expiring in July, he is set to become a free agent. Koeman still believes in the 27-year-old right-back, who can play as the centre-half as well as a winger. However, a first team slot will not be easy as English youngster Mason Holgate has been impressive in that position in Coleman’s absence.
