OPINION
Everton desperately needed to add another centre-back to their squad before Thursday’s 11pm deadline and should have tried harder in completing a deal for Porto captain Ivan Marcano.
The Daily Mail claimed that the Toffees were interested in signing the 30-year-old stopper before the end of the transfer window, but a move failed to materialise prior to Thursday’s deadline.
Everton desperately need another option at centre-back as they prepare to compete in four different competitions this season after qualifying for the group stages of the Europa League.
However, Argentina international Ramiro Funes Mori, 26, is set to miss the majority of the 2017-18 season after undergoing surgery to correct a knee problem he suffered back in March while on international duty.
The former River Plate defender went under the knife in Barcelona and is not expected to return for six to nine months, leaving a void at the back.
It leaves Ronald Koeman with just Michael Keane, Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams as youngster Matthew Pennginton has joined Leeds on a season-long loan deal.
Both Jagielka and Williams are now well into their thirties and rest periods will be needed, but games are set to come thick and fast due to their participation in Europe.
A new central defender with plenty of European experience was needed then, and Marcano would have been the perfect signing to bring to Merseyside if he decided to join the Toffees and leave Champions League side Porto.
His commanding nature and willingness to put his body on the line is second to none, almost the Spanish version of former Chelsea and England captain John Terry.
In the final year of his contract, a cut-price deal could have been struck which would have suited Everton who have spent huge amounts this summer on the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jordan Pickford and Davy Klaassen.
Turning out for Villarreal, Racing Santander, Getafe, Olympiacos, Rubin Kazan and Porto, Marcano has accumulated a huge 71 Champions Legaue and Europa League appearance and that would have proven pivotal.
However, Everton must now hope that Keane, Williams and Jagielka go without injury, at least until January.