Everton have made a stunning late offer for Barcelona centre-back Thomas Vermaelen, according to a report.
The Mirror have claimed via their live transfer blog (Thursday) that the Toffees have made a loan bid for the 31-year-old former Arsenal defender with manager Ronald Koeman looking for a left-sided enforcer.
Vermaelen spent the second half of the last campaign on loan in Serie A with AS Roma and has not featured at all for Barcelona in the new campaign.
With Everton now looking to bring a busy summer to it’s end, This Is Futbol has weighed up whether a move for Vermaelen would be good for the Toffees and if it is likely to happen.
Good move for Everton?
Vermaelen has shown that he can play at the top level with each of Arsenal, Ajax, Barcelona and Roma and it is only injuries and age that he is now moving down the ladder. Everton themselves are looking to reach the level of the aforementioned trio and while Vermaelen won’t be a long-term Toffees signing he could be the perfect addition for the short term. A bad player does not play 61 times for the Belgium national team, nor does he play 150 times for Arsenal. The only question marks over any deal for Vermaelen will be whether he still has the legs to play in the Premier League, but then they are also quashed by the fact Everton have only offered a short-term loan deal at the moment and if he isn’t a success then he will simply return to Barcelona at the end of the season.
This Is Futbol rating: 8/10.
Likely to happen?
Vermaelen is not needed at Barcelona and with Everton looking for a new centre-back this would seem like a match made in heaven. Koeman showed last summer that he is willing to bring in players of experience with the addition of Ashley Williams from Swansea to his back line and Vermaelen would very much be considered a similar signing. There doesn’t seem to be any rival interest for the Belgian enforcer either and therefore it looks more likely than not that Vermaelen will be being unveiled at Goodison Park before the 11.00pm deadline.
This Is Futbol rating: 9/10.