Everton told Yerry Mina in the summer they were open to selling him
Everton told Yerry Mina during the close season that he would be allowed to move on if the right offer came in, according to The Athletic.
The Colombian international centre-back , 27, had been plagued by injuries prior to the current season, and the Toffees harboured concerns over his injury record.
With Everton looking to cut costs in order to adhere to Financial Fair Play rules and bring in reinforcements in the summer, Mina’s injury record left him vulnerable and susceptible to a sale.
Fortunately, that did not happen, and he has since become one of the most consistent and top performers under Rafa Benitez.
Huge
Since his arrival from Barcelona in the summer of 2018, Mina has missed 23 games due to injuries, spending 216 days on the sidelines [Transfer markt].
He started 23 Premier League games last term under Carlo Ancelotti, but it did not appear that he featured much in Benitez’s plans heading into 2021-22.
The Colombian has turned his fortunes around, playing six top-flight games so far.
He missed Sunday’s 1-0 loss against West Ham United after Everton decided he was only ready for a place on the bench upon returning from South America on Friday.
The Toffees lost 1-0, but things might have been different had the towering centre-back been available.
The visitors scored from a corner kick, with Angelo Ogbonna beating Ben Godfrey in the air to guide his header past Jordan Pickford at the near post.
Mina might have prevented that, and Benitez would have wished he had him on the pitch at that moment.
The defender is slowly establishing himself as a key player for Everton, and he could become one of their most important players if he maintains his fitness and keeps up his form.
In other Everton news, Benitez has admitted he finds it hard to understand Toffees man sometimes.
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