OPINION
Inter Milan have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Arsenal ace Shkodran Mustafi but Everton should make an eleventh hour move to re-sign the defender.
Sky Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claimed on his official website that the 25-year-old centre-back has an agreement with Inter, after a disappointing end to his 2016-17 campaign with the Gunners.
It is said that the only stumbling block preventing a deal from occurring is the type of deal in which Mustafi joins the Serie A giants, with Inter wanting a loan-to-buy move while the Gunners want a permanent transfer.
Everton should look to steal in and lure their former defender back to Merseyside with the clubs still yet to agree, five years after the Germany international left the Toffees and moved to Serie A side Sampdoria.
His career has since come on leaps and bounds, winning the World Cup with Germany in 2014 before completing a £36million transfer to the Emirates Stadium last year – a far cry from managing just one senior Everton appearance in three years.
The Toffees have lost Argentina international Ramiro Funes Mori to a long-term knee injury after he underwent an operation in Barcelona to correct the problem, which he suffered back in March.
It leaves Ronald Koeman with just Michael Keane, Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams as the Toffees look to compete on four fronts after qualifying for the group stages of the Europa League.
However, the latter duo are beginning to enter the final stages of their career, and need to be rested here and there. With the gruelling Europa League campaign unrelenting, Everton must sign another centre-back.
Although Mustafi is likely to cost a similar fee to the one that saw Arsenal secure his signature in the first place, the defender would not be out of Everton’s range as the Toffees continue to show off their transfer prowess.
Bringing in Gylfi Sigurdsson for a huge £45million, owner Farhad Moshiri has also splashed out on the likes of Keane, Davy Klaassen, Jordan Pickford and others.
Able to afford Mustafi, the Toffees must tempt Mustafi into giving Everton a second crack finishing what he started, as he plummets down the pecking order in north London.
Luring Mustafi back to Goodison Park would be a huge statement of intent from the Toffees in their aim of Champions League football, as well as providing cover and European experience that will serve Koeman well in the Europa League.
If the Toffees can secure his signature for £30million, then Koeman would see his side take a giant leap towards the top four.