Dave Prentice has been speaking very highly of Yerry Mina on the Royal Blue podcast.
The Toffees have some solid options to choose from in the heart of defence with Mina, Ben Godfrey, Michael Keane and Mason Holgate, but so far in the Premier League, Rafael Benitez has opted for Mina and Keane in the majority of their matches.
Is Mina Everton's best centre back?
Yes!
No!
The Colombian defender, who is now valued at £18 million (as per Transfermarkt), was signed by Marco Silva in 2018 for £27 million from Barcelona, but has struggled to get a consistent run of minutes in the league.
His highest amount of starts in a single campaign is 25, while niggling injuries have plagued him throughout his time at Goodison Park. This season, though, Prentice has seen a different side to Mina which excites him.
Prentice spoke highly of Mina’s recent performances and improvements.
“There are occasions like at the weekend, when he does look an absolutely imposing presence that [he] should be one of the first names on the teamsheet. But then he has his little meltdowns every now and then, which are becoming less and less.
“I mean, the big problem as ever with Yerry Mina has been his fitness and his consistency of appearance – so being fit enough to actually play every week.
“If he is fit for a prolonged period of time, he probably is amongst the best [centre-back at Everton], given that Ben Godfrey is struggling a bit, [with] performing and fitness himself at the moment following his [illness].”
TIF Thoughts on Mina…
Having been signed for big money from Barcelona, he’s the club’s fifth most expensive signing, so many may have expected Mina to have influenced this Everton side more than he has done and to help improve their defence, however, they’ve conceded 48, 56 and 46 goals in the respective three seasons Mina’s been at the club, with his highest volume of starts coming during the campaign in which they shipped 56 goals in 2019/20.
This appears to be a very crucial season for Mina, though, with reports over the summer claiming that Benitez was happy for him to leave, and this may have led to Mina’s performances impressing Prentice more this campaign if he’s fighting for his Everton future.