Report: Everton ready to rival AC Milan in hunt to sign Mohamed Simakan
Everton are ready to rival Serie A leaders AC Milan for young French defender Mohamed Simakan, according to TuttoMercatoWeb.
Though his current club Strasbourg are struggling in Ligue 1 this season, with the French side sitting in 16th place, the 20-year-old central defender looks to have done enough to move onto pastures new.
The Italian football website reports Milan, who are the only club yet to taste defeat in Europe’s top five leagues, are in pole position for Simakan, while Wolves are also monitoring his progress.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Simakan “would currently prefer the Rossoneri” but director of football Marcel Brands will be hopeful he can exert his influence in the deal to see him move to Goodison Park instead.
Stats by WyScout show that Simakan ranks 20th for total interceptions in Ligue 1, with 81 to his name. He also ranks 23rd for shots blocked, with eight.
He has also covered in other positions such as right-back and defensive midfield, but WhoScored give him more modest ratings of 6.34 and 6.72 in these positions, respectively.
Simakan is also given weaknesses of ‘crossing’ and ‘passing’ by WhoScored, perhaps showing his unsuitability at full-back, compared to a strength of ‘tackling’.
His 11 appearances at centre back, meanwhile, have brought in a rating of 6.88, while he has also chipped in with a goal.
If Everton do manage to beat AC Milan and Wolves to his signature, it will be interesting to see whether manager Carlo Ancelotti can find a space in his squad for Simakan, or whether this is a long term move by Brands.
With Michael Keane and Yerry Mina impressing at the heart of defence this season, and Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate also in the pecking order, it would not be a surprise to see Simakan signed and then loaned back out to continue his development.
In other Everton news, here’s our predicted line-up for Everton’s clash with Manchester United.