Everton linked to FC Basel defender yet again

Everton has been linked several times to FC Basel’s Eray Cömert. The 21 year old center back is the captain of the Swiss U-21 national team and Arsenal have also been mentioned as well.

This rumor keeps popping up over and again and I just do not see why. Finding statistical data on the Swiss league is difficult to find. The league is 17th in UEFA coefficients, just one slot ahead of the Cypriot league. In this league, Cömert has played in 19 out of 28 league games. The generally reliable site Transfermarkt has his value listed at a paltry £1.35m.

I simply do not understand why this rumor keeps getting traction. The general level of the Swiss league is not even as good as the Championship. Cömert is therefore only a year older than Mason Holgate, and playing in a less prestigious league. Even if Everton makes this transfer I just do not see it being for an important sum of money and I do not see it ever having a major impact on the first team.

Speaking of Mason Holgate, I have never rated the player at centrehalf, and have been rather vocal about that in the past, but give me Holgate over this guy any day of the week because at least I know what he can and cannot do.

Marcel Brands has indicated his interest in developing the youth from within and with Morgan Feeney and Lewis Gibson also putting in eyecatching performances for the Under-23 side, these Cömert rumours seem even more unlikely.

It is completely possible that Brands and his scouting team could see something of promise there and are willing to make the buy. Perhaps in a few years Cömert either makes us money on a sell on or is a useful part of the first team, I do no know. But this buy will not impact the team next season. It will not be for very much money, it is not much more than a youth buy.

I am sure as the offseason comes closer, this rumor will come up again. FC Basel is a club people recognize, and so a player of there’s being linked most anywhere comes with an air of credibility, and that’s fine. But with Kurt Zouma on his way back to Chelsea (most likely) and Phil Jagielka showing his age, FC Basel does not have the defender we need.