OPINION
Ronald Koeman will know that there is work still to be done in the transfer window at Everton this summer with a new centre-back likely to be at the top of his agenda.
The Toffees are light at centre-back and should re-enter the transfer window after acting quickly this summer to bring in the likes of Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane and Wayne Rooney.
The Daily Mail claims Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala could be handed a new lifeline at the Etihad despite being considered surplus to requirements earlier on in the transfer window.
It is said with Pep Guardiola’s side now running out of time to add another Man City centre-back to their ranks this summer, the 26-year-old could be brought in from the cold after a season-long loan at Valencia last term.
Mangala was considered in the same bracket as the likes of Wilfried Bony and Samir Nasri after training away from the first-team squad with the ostracised duo, but the report claims he is back in Guardiola’s training sessions.
However, if City sign a new central defender to compete with Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones, Mangala will be offloaded just three years after completing a £42million move to City from Porto.
Everton should jump to the front of the queue to sign the eight-time France international, after Ramiro Funes Mori went under the knife to correct a long-term knee injury.
The Argentinian suffered the problem while on international duty in March, and is now expected to be sidelined for the majority of the 2017-18 season as he recovers from the problem.
Without Funes Mori, Everton have Ashley Williams, Phil Jagielka and new signing Keane. The Toffees will be competing on our fronts this season after qualifying for the Europa League, and four defenders are required.
Luring Mangala to Goodison Park then is vital, not least because he boasts an abundance of speed at the back which none of the Toffees’ available centre-backs are able to match.
Making 46 appearances in European competition for the likes of City, Porto and Standard Liege, his knowledge of how to impress underneath the lights against the continent’s best would also prove a huge asset in Everton’s pursuit of Europa League glory.
Combining all of this, Mangala must be viewed as a must-buy for Everton and Koeman as they prepare to embark on their 2017-18 Premier League campaign by playing host to Stoke on Saturday.