Michal Ball: Benitez must sign Koulibaly or big name to win over Everton fans
Michael Ball has urged Rafa Benitez to sign Kalidou Koulibaly in a bid to win over Everton fans.
The appointment of a former Champions League-winning manager with Liverpool did not go down too well with the Toffees faithful.
Everton are looking to sign a centre-back this summer, and Koulibaly’s a name that has been linked with the club for the last 12 months.
Even this summer, the Toffees retain an interest in signing the 30-year-old and have also tabled an initial bid for him, per Calciomercato on July 14.
Discussing Koulibaly’s potential arrival at Goodison Park this summer, Ball told Transfer Tavern, “That could get some fans on board a bit more. A big signing, whether it’s Koulibaly or somebody else.
“You brought Benitez, who backs himself as a top coach, into the football club to improve the players that are already there, but fans always like to see new faces.”
Indeed
The angst from the early days of the Benitez appointment appears to have waned among most Everton fans, but we’ve continued to hold him to account since day one of his tenure at the club.
Thus far, the names he or Marcel Brands have got through the door, have been underwhelming, to say the least.
While all three of them are supposed backups, it’s about time we sign some first-team players who can strengthen our playing eleven.
Koulibaly is one such player who can do exactly that. Defenders usually tend to be at their peak when they’re between 28 and 32, and the Senegalese is right in the middle at 30.
He may have slowed down over the last few years, but defensively he’s still solid and his mere arrival is set to get the fans excited and possibly give Benitez some leeway during his early days at the club.
Napoli appear to be firm in their resolve of not letting go of the player, but we have to be persistent and Benitez could use his prior connection with the defender to tempt him to move to Goodison Park.
In other Everton news, Pundit wants Everton to get rid of big-name player after Fabrizio Romano report
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