The 3 defenders Everton should be trying to sign this summer

UNDER Marco Silva, Everton are in a good place. We’re making strides towards breaking into the top six and this summer is a major chance to bridge that gap with the teams above us.

Securing a permanent deal for Andre Gomes from FC Barcelona is a great start. He’s the sort of ball playing, classy midfielder that makes any team tick but it’s only a start, Everton still need more and we need to strengthen in defence for sure.

Everton finished the season with eight clean sheets in our last ten games but the departure of Phil Jagielka after his contract expired and Kurt Zouma’s return to Chelsea have left us short in defence, so Marcel Brands and Silva will be looking together to bring in some real quality in that area.

There are three players I want Everton to be looking at and the first is so obvious – Kurt Zouma.

Zouma is interested. Silva wants him. Brands wants him. Every Evertonian wants him. Zouma played 29 games for Everton last season and was magnificent in those last ten games where we kept eight clean sheets. He’s already an Evertonian in my eyes, but it is Chelsea’s transfer ban that probably means it is impossible.

It’s such a shame because Zouma is Everton’s No.1 target, the one we all want. Any other signing would take time to settle and with Jagielka going we need somebody readymade to lead with experience – Zouma ticks all the boxes. If somehow Everton can find a deal that Chelsea agree with, then bringing Zouma back would be one of the single best bits of business we could do this summer.

Marco Silva on Kurt Zouma “I am hopeful,” “I think I am hopeful like all of our fans are but I have to tell you that we have different solutions because we cannot just have one solution. I have different solutions in my mind but I am hopeful and if we ca… https://t.co/yIfY8fOyGy pic.twitter.com/skXCu5wXff

— Toffee TV (@ToffeeTVEFC) July 7, 2019

Looking elsewhere, there are still some class options Everton can look at, like Diego Llorente from Real Sociedad. The 25-year-old has already been linked with us this summer and he’s highly-rated, so there are plenty of clubs sniffing around. When you see him in action, it’s not too much of a surprise

Llorente, who has been capped by Spain, is the sort of ball playing centre-back who could bring so much to Everton. Imagine him linking through the middle with Gomes. At 25, he’s at the right age to make a difference straight away and I’ve got a feeling he’s going to keep getting better. Whether it’s Everton or not, whoever signs Llorente this summer has a real player on their hands

Moussa Niakhate is one who Everton should be keeping a real close eye on as well. The 23-year-old French defender, who plays in the Bundesliga with FSV Mainz, is a confident ball player and is extremely composed for his age. He’s class at coming out from defence with the ball as well and like Llorente could add that sprinkling of quality that a modern-day centre-back needs to have. He’d be a bit more of a risk than Llorente, certainly Zouma, but there are great options everywhere if Everton look in the right places.

Last summer Everton signed Richarlison, Yerry Mina and Lucas Digne on permanent deals, as well as Andre Gomes and Kurt Zouma on loan. It took Everton up a level. This summer, Everton need to do exactly the same again and keep strengthening in key positions, so here’s hoping Brands and Silva can pull off some real magic with some top-class defensive signings.

Kurt Zouma to sign for Everton this summer – 3/4