German international left back in Everton’s transfer sights

If there’s one thing that Everton supporters the world over have been able to agree on in the past year, it’s that the club desperately need to find a long-term replacement for Leighton Baines. The Blues’ ageless left-back still plays consistently well, but Baines is fighting a battle with Father Time, and there can only be one winner.

Options have been suggested and rumored, from the decidedly mediocre (Patrick van Aanholt) to the unrealistic (Danny Rose). Fear not, though, as Sky Sports’ Lyall Thomas is reporting a fresh link to a talented left-sided defender.

Plattenhardt, 26, made Germany’s final World Cup roster, and will likely be expected to back up Jonas Hector. The left-back played 38 times for Hertha Berlin this season, registering an impressive 8 assists. Plattenhardt is of an age and ability where he would be able to seamlessly slot into a Premier League defense.

As the following graphic shows, the German is excellent creatively, and rarely dispossessed or dribbled past.

TransferMarkt has Plattenhardt rated as worth €15 million, but his contract runs until 2023, so it may take more than that to pry him out of Berlin.

While some may have wanted a younger player like Kieran Tierney or Ben Chilwell to succeed Leighton Baines, Plattenhardt is a full 7 years younger than Leighton, and the kind of transfer that Everton need to be making if they want to see immediate on-field improvement.