Pundit and ex-Toffees striker Kevin Campbell has stated that Everton must cash in on Colombian defender Yerry Mina this summer.
Frank Lampard has previously admitted that Mina is a ‘big player‘ for him and the Goodison Park outfit, and they tend to perform better when he is in the team, as they lost a whopping 19 out of the 30 games where he did not play last season, compared to just four in the 14 matches that he did (Transfermarkt).
However, his contract on Merseyside is set to expire in 2023, and there has been no talk of a renewal as of yet to stay at the club.
Earlier this month, TuttoMercatoWeb journalist Raimondo De Magistris revealed that Mina had been ‘told’ by the Toffees that he is ‘leaving’ this summer:
He tweeted: “Yerry Mina is leaving Everton this summer. One year before the expiration of the contract, the Toffees told the Colombian defender that he is not part of future plans.”
And Campbell agrees believing that it is time to cut ties with the Colombian international defender.
He told Goodison News: “The time for Mina [has come]. He’s a good character and all that but just hasn’t been available enough. That’s been the problem, and now he’s got 12 months [left].
“If it was me, what I see now, I’d cash in. You cash in and then you can start getting the money and shaping what the future looks like.
“Because realistically, Yerry Mina isn’t going to be around too much longer at Everton. Frank Lampard’s got to get that money and start shaping the squad to his liking. That’s for sure.”
TIF Thoughts on Yerry Mina…
It will be a big blow to lose a key player in Mina, especially given the fact that he could end up leaving for a relatively cheap price with only one year left on his contract.
The stats tell their own story, as when he is on the pitch, Everton look more solid and are more of a compact and organised unit at the back in comparison to when he is not present.
We feel that if there’s one player in Frank Lampard’s defensive options that should remain a key figure in his team, it is indeed the £18m-rated colossus.
Imagine the partnership the 39-time Colombian international could form with expected arrival James Tarkowski next season, offering Lampard plenty of stability and experience in order to solve their leaky defence.
The Toffees should well be looking to tie Mina down to a new deal if possible instead of willingly letting him go this summer with just 12 months of negotiating power.