Everton to complete another defender signing within days – reliable journalist
By Danny Wright
Everton will complete the signing of Cuco Martina within a matter of days, according to a reliable journalist.
Paul Joyce, reporter for the Times, claimed on his personal Twitter account on Wednesday morning that the 27-year-old will arrive on Merseyside on a free transfer following his release from Southampton.
It is understood that the Curacao international defender will provide manager Ronald Koeman with “cover” to his current defensive options.
Martina looks set to become the second addition Koeman’s defence this summer following Michael Keane’s big-money move from Burnley earlier this month.
The Dutch manager hasn’t been afraid to make additions to his squad, with a huge summer overhaul that doesn’t appear to be showing any signs of slowing down.
Jordan Pickford, Davy Klaassen, Keane, Sandro Ramirez and Wayne Rooney have all been added to the Toffees’ first team ahead of the upcoming campaign, where Koeman and his men will compete in the Europa League.
Martina barely featured for Southampton last season, as he made just 18 appearances across all competitions, starting just six Premeir League fixtures.
The right-back will join up with an Everton squad that is set to be without Seamus Coleman for an extended period as he continues to recover from a horrific leg break which was suffered earlier this year.
Football Insider Verdict
Everton haven’t been afraid to go all out on their deals so far this summer, so it’s a huge change of pace from them to go for a free agent who barely earned any first team football last season. Coleman is already beginning to age, so maybe looking at a youthful understudy would have been the better way to go, even if it cost them a fair bit of money. Martina will probably just come to Goodison Park to fill in the void left by Coleman as he recovers from his broken leg. There has to be better options out there for the Toffees, but it looks like it’s too late for them to change their mind.
In other Everton news, Koeman is also planning on a double raid of the Dutch Eredivise for a centre-back and a goalkeeper.
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