Everton haven’t had the best of seasons, finishing in an unsatisfactory seventh position in the Premier League especially when one takes into consideration their second half of the season. The Toffees are looking for a better season in the next term, and are looking to bring in reinforcements to make their team strong enough to achieve a better result in the Premier League.
Ronald Koeman, the man in charge at Goodison Park, has already been looking for players from all over Europe who have performed well for their respective teams this term. One such player, who has been keenly eyed by the Dutchman to be brought into the team in the next season is the goalkeeper from the French Ligue 1 side Saint Etienne Stephane Ruffier.
The 30-year-old has been in good form of late and has attracted interests from a number of Premier League clubs including Arsenal and Everton. The Merseyside club have been looking to bring in a good shot stopper into the squad with both their goalkeepers Joel Robles and Maarten Stekelenburg looking unsettled between the sticks as the first choice shot-stopper for the team going into the preparations for the next season.
However, the French international is under contract with his current club Saint Etienne till 2021 and Everton might have to cough up some serious amount of money to get him into their side this summer.
Ruffier has also been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium in the summer with the Gunners all set to find a suitable replacement for the veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech, who might be shown the door on the completion of his contract with the North London club this year, along with their second choice goalkeeper David Ospina entitled to a move to the Turkish club Fenerbahce this summer.
The 30-year-old featured in 31 games for his current club in the recently concluded season and has been the star of the show for them throughout the present term. His performance has been one of the prime reasons for his team to finish in the top half of the league table in the French Ligue 1 competition this season, at number eight to be precise.
Ruffier has been known for his excellent ball handling abilities and for keeping a cool head between the sticks for his side. Everton is in dire need of someone who might be as good as their former goalkeeper and club legend Tim Howard, and the French shot-stopper might be the answer to their woes.
