Everton want to sign Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso
Everton are interested in signing 26-year-old Atletico Madrid defender Mario Hermoso, according to Fichajes.
The Spanish news outlet claims the central defender, who can also play at left-back, is wanted by Everton and could become Rafa Benitez’s first defensive reinforcement at the Blues after being tracked by the 61-year-old.
La Liga champions Atletico are said to be open to studying an offer if an attractive one arrives.
However, that would be no less than £29.7million, with the Spanish side under no pressure to sell this summer.
Premier League rivals Arsenal and Aston Villa are also credited with an interest in the five-cap Spanish international.
Gaining El Cholo’s trust
Firstly, it has to be acknowledged just how difficult it would be to prise Hermoso from Diego Simeone’s side.
After a season of adaptation following his arrival from Espanyol in 2019, Hermoso really established himself during the 2020/21 campaign, playing 38 times in all competitions, including 30 starts in La Liga.
His versatility allowed Simeone to play him at full-back and centre-back while he was the perfect player on the left of a back three. Thus, the legendary manager will be loath to lose his services.
However, after buying Hermoso for around £21.2million two years ago, Atletico could earn nearly £10million profit were they to let him go for the £29.7million fee mentioned.
Regarding the Blues interest, meanwhile, it looks a simple link to make given Hermoso is a fine player and is the same nationality as Benitez. Furthermore, the pair were actually both at Real Madrid during the manager’s spell there between 2015-16, with Hermoso playing for the reserve side.
But, unless the Blues boss is planning on playing a three-man defence, would Hermoso be suited to playing in central defence? He’s not going to displace Lucas Digne at left-back, that’s out of the question, which leaves the middle as his only chance of gaining a starting place.
The issue there is his height. Standing at just six feet tall, Hermoso is one of the smaller central defenders around, and with giants like Yerry Mina in the squad, would represent a vast difference.
Perhaps his athleticism would make up for the lack of height, but Benitez tends to prefer more traditional options at central defence, and that could see prevent a transfer from taking place.
In other Everton news, Richard Keys has issued a thinly-veiled swipe at this Blues man after what he saw online.
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