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View: Everton should target Max Aarons to succeed Coleman this summer
Norwich full-back Max Aarons could be the player that Everton need this summer, as the club look to find a long-term successor to Seamus Coleman.
At 32-years old, Everton’s club captain Coleman isn’t ready to hang up his boots just yet, but the Toffees will need to strengthen their options if they are to match their own ambition.
Carlo Ancelotti has not hidden the fact that his side are targeting qualification to the Champions League, though they may be forced to settle with the Europa League as things stand.
Either way, Everton want to be back in Europe, and they’ll need to improve their squad if they are to mount an effective challenge in continental competition.
Mason Holgate has primarily played right-back this season in Coleman’s stead, but the former Barnsley man is more naturally suited to playing in the centre, meaning Everton could use the summer transfer window to bring in a long-term option in that role.
This is where we think Max Aarons could come into play as a prime candidate to join Ancelotti’s growing squad.
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Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football summit (as reported by Sky Sports), Norwich majority shareholder Delia Smith conceded that the Canaries were likely to lose Aarons in the near future.
Eurosport reported shortly before the January transfer window that Everton were interested in signing the young defender, who Sport claimed in the summer to have caught the eye of La Liga giants Barcelona.
An ever-present fixture in Daniel Farke’s line-up this season, Aarons has played 30 times in the Championship for Norwich, where his defensive tenacity and lighting pace have helped propel the Canaries to top spot in the second flight.
Sky Sports report that Norwich have slapped a hefty price tag of £30-35million on the 21-year old, which at a glance does seem like a daunting figure.
However, if Everton are looking to the immediate future as well as the distant one, Aarons could be just the player that they need.
In other Everton news, Michael Owen believes that Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be chomping at the bit ahead of Saturday’s clash with Liverpool.