Everton in surprising link for overrated defender

Everton are getting pretty desperate for a left back it appears, especially with the latest name linked in the Blues’ search to fill the position made vacant by Leighton Baines’ calf injury.

Paul Joyce is one of the most trusted names in football, and when he tells us that Everton are looking at Eliaquim Mangala, then you better believe that the Toffees are indeed looking at Eliaquim Mangala. Note how he also specifically calls out ‘left-footed’, because it makes it sound like the Blues are thinking of using him as a left back, and that is where this little story starts to go off the rails.

In over 200 games played in his senior career, the centrehalf Mangala has played exactly 14 at the left-back position, back between 2012-14 for FC Porto in Portugal. We can only assume that our interest in Mangala is for the left back position, because surely we aren’t chasing him for our centreback pairing as that makes even less sense. Once Ramiro Funes Mori returns, that’ll make half a dozen (SIX!) players vying for two positions, with exactly 13 Premier Leagues games left to play after tomorrow.

Now if we’re thinking that Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams aren’t in the squad to begin the 2018-19 season, and Mangala is going to enter a four-man rotation, then we have even bigger issues and Steve Walsh’s sanity along with his footballing credentials need immediate scrutiny.

WhoScored.com

The 26-year-old defender’s current contract expires at the end of the 2018-19 season and he’s on £65,000/week wages, which is not bad. However, think about this for a second - Mangala is barely getting playing time in a Manchester City defence that has John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi and Vincent Kompany. He has featured in 15 games this season, after playing in 33 games on loan with Valencia in Spain where he was no great shakes last season.

@fussballradars

Mangala was the subject of a huge transfer fee from Porto to City back in 2014, to the tune of £32 million, though reports later clarified that the sum was closer to £42 million. In recent days, Newcastle, West Ham United and Valencia have all been linked with a loan move for the player, and we can only hope that he ends up at one of those clubs.