Everton are in the market for a left-back to address the injury concerns of Leighton Baines and are eyeing a move for Chelsea’s Abdul Baba Rahman in the coming weeks.
The 23-year-old signed from Augsburg in 2015, Abdul Baba Rahman has had a frustrating time at Chelsea. The Ghanaian defender has only made 15 appearances for the club since his hefty €25m switch from the German side. He is now being chased by Turkish side Fenerbahce who wants to bring him in on a season-long loan in January.
An attacking left back in nature, Rahman was brought in as a back-up for Mourinho’s title-winning squad. However, a disastrous season at Chelsea saw every player fail to perform and things had to be shaken from the 2016-17 season. Baba Rahman failed to impress new boss Conte and was sent out on loan to Schalke to get some much-needed game time.
Rahman’s season at Schalke was cut short in January when the player suffered an unfortunate anterior cruciate ligament injury while serving his country at the African Cup of Nations. He returned to Chelsea at the end of the season where he continued his rehab. He returned to fitness and first-team training in September.
However, he has not yet shown any glimpses of potential and good form since his return and Chelsea who had his name omitted from their Premier League and Champions League squads have not yet found a reason to rue their mistake.
Maybe a move is now the only escape he can look for at least for the next 14 games in the Premier League season. Everton are making do with Rhu-endly Cuco Martina at the left-back position ever since Baines went down with a long-term injury in the early stages of the campaign.
Even though Martina has been impressive as a makeshift option he is better suited to the right-hand side and does not have the lethal left foot to provide a lot of options going forward. Sam Allardyce’s side has fallen on a rough patch in recent weeks with the side failing to win in their last 6 league fixtures.
Even after such a heavily invested summer window, the side could only manage a 9th spot of the points table after 24 games and the European qualification spot is almost an unrealistic target now.
Baba Rahman will be provided with an opportunity to resurrect his failing career at Goodison Park and is a better option for Allardyce ahead of Crystal Palace’s Patrik van Aanholt.
