Everton

Everton: Adam Jones backs Yerry Mina for a new contract

|
Image for Everton: Adam Jones backs Yerry Mina for a new contract

Speaking on the Royal Blue podcast, Adam Jones has urged Everton to hand Yerry Mina a new contract.

The Colombian defender, despite being linked with a move away from Everton in the summer, has featured heavily under Rafael Benitez in the Premier League having started six of their seven games so far.

At the weekend, Mina thought he’d got his first goal of the season against Manchester United, only for it to be ruled out for offside.

Who do you think is Everton's best centre-back?

Yerry Mina

Yerry Mina

Ben Godfrey

Ben Godfrey

Michael Keane

Michael Keane

Mason Holgate

Mason Holgate

Mina has just under two years left on his current contract, and considering how often he’s being selected by Benitez, Jones believes it would be a bizarre move for Everton not to tie him down to a longer-term deal if he’s going to be a regular.

Jones spoke highly of Mina and how he should be handed a new deal.

“It’s very interesting that we’ve now got a situation where he’s got this season, and then he’s got next season, and then he’s out of contract, isn’t he? So he seems to be the prime candidate, I would say, for a new contract at Everton.

“Because playing the way he is, he’s Everton’s best centre-back at the minute. I don’t think Everton can really afford to be allowing their best centre-back to be going towards the end of his deal.

“I know there’s still some people who think that maybe he’s a prime candidate for us to cash in on, but I just don’t see that at all.

“I think he’s an absolutely fantastic player, he’s still 27. I think in terms of a centre-back, he’s still got ages and ages left in him, especially with the way he plays the game, he’s still got ages in him as well. So I would love to see the club prioritising a new deal for him.”

TIF Thoughts on Mina…

Last season was a disappointing one for Mina, who was handed just 23 starts, which was the fewest amongst the four senior centre-backs that the Toffees had at their disposal, however, Benitez appears to have bumped Mina up the pecking order ahead of Mason Holgate and, for the minute, Ben Godfrey.

1 of 10

To kick off this quiz on Everton transfers, which player was the Toffees' club-record transfer fee paid on according to Transfermarkt?

Since arriving back in the summer of 2018, Mina has missed 23 games due to injury and even arrived from Barcelona with an injury but now, at 27 years old, Mina may be about to have a standout campaign if Benitez can get the best out of him and keep him fit, as the most times he’s started in the league for Everton remains just 25.

In other news: ‘He was the key man’ – Greg O’Keeffe hails Everton ace who’s ‘gone to another level’

Share this article