Everton are interested in sealing a swoop for FC Porto defender Chancel Mbemba as Frank Lampard aims to rebuild his squad at Goodison Park.
What’s the news?
That’s according to newspaper A Bola (via Sport Witness) which stated that the Toffees are among the most recent competitors to secure his signature, along with Fiorentina and Trabzonspor.
Mbemba had a three-year spell at Newcastle United between 2015 and 2018, and he would reportedly be keen on a return to England, making Everton one of the favourites to sign him upon the expiry of his contract at the end of this month.
Lampard will love him
Everton had the fifth-worst defence in the Premier League last season, conceding a woeful 66 goals in 38 matches, and it's clear what area Lampard should be looking at prioritising in terms of improvement.
With the signing of former Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski all but confirmed, the 43-year-old isn’t wasting time on trying to shore up the defence, and Mbemba could be another excellent addition at the heart of the Everton backline.
He featured 47 times in all competitions last term, helping Porto to win yet another league title, adding in two goals for good measure.
He made only 21 fouls in his 31 league matches, which went a long way in Porto conceding just 22 goals throughout the campaign. The defender was only dribbled past 0.1 times and made 2.5 clearances per match, while his 96% passing accuracy in his own half shows just how comfortable he is with the ball at his feet and showcases his ability to initiate attacks from the back.
Mbemba earns £22k-p/w at the moment, and although he may want slightly more than that to come to Everton, it could be worth every penny.
His former Anderlecht team-mate Steven Defour has described him as a “tough defender” in the past, and this is something that Everton are crying out for as they approach one of the most important seasons in recent memory.