da premier bet： According to the Mirror, Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti is set to make Lille centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes his first signing this summer, and he will help resolve one of their biggest problems.
What’s the word?
da pinnacle： It is claimed the Italian chief has identified the 22-year-old as a player he can rebuild his defence around with talks already reportedly underway.
Gabriel could set the Merseyside outfit back around £30m, which is only £15m shy of their club-record addition of Gylfi Sigurdsson.
There’s also the belief that the Brazilian’s arrival would spell the end for one the club’s centre-backs.
Ancelotti would like to transform the Toffees into Champions League contenders as soon as next season, so this potential move would be a step in the right direction.
Defensive solution
Everton’s Achilles heel this season – especially under the 60-year-old – has been at the back, which was hugely evident last time out when Frank Lampard’s Chelsea stuck four past them despite having only one striker named in the matchday squad.
In the Premier League this season, the Goodison Park-based side have conceded the second-most amount of goals from set-pieces while their overall defensive record ranks as the sixth-worst.
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Michael Keane has been particularly poor this campaign, regressing from last season’s effort across the board as his numbers have been lower for tackles, clearances and passes per game.
The Englishman may be most at risk of losing his place as a result, especially after fellow countryman Mason Holgate was rewarded with a long-term extension at the club.
Meanwhile, Gabriel has been excelling on Europe’s elite stage where he has averaged 3.7 clearances, 2.2 interceptions and 2 tackles each match, via WhoScored.
Did he really play for us?! No Everton fan has managed to name all of these obscure Toffees players….
The 6 foot 3 defender could be a perfect fit for Ancelotti as this scout report has revealed – his range of passing from the back and aerial ability are two major attributes that would make him a sure-fire hit in Merseyside.
Everton would be wise to make a splash on Gabriel this summer.
And in other news, Brands can comfortably slash £26.68m from Everton’s wage bill…