This has been a summer of unexpected events for an Everton side that appear to be heading towards mediocrity again.
They have lost Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez’s start to life at Goodison Park has hardly been an encouraging one.
What’s the word?
The Toffees have added Demarai Gray, Andros Townsend and Asmir Begovic to their ranks this summer but their latest 4-0 defeat to Manchester United in pre-season tells us they are not in good shape at all.
However, there are still three weeks of the window left for Everton to improve their ranks ahead of an assault on the Premier League’s top six.
Benitez has been striving to improve their defence and after missing out on Ben White, they have turned their attentions to Mario Hermoso.
Reports in Spain claim that Everton dream of signing the Atletico Madrid defender, but they face competition from Aston Villa and Everton.
Hermoso is currently valued at £34m via CIES Football Observatory.
Perfect for Benitez
Hermoso is a well-schooled footballer. Developed in the Real Madrid youth ranks, he now plays his football under one of the most defensively astute managers in the game; Diego Simeone.
Capped five times by Spain, the 26-year-old is a progressive defender capable of breaking the lines and offering a huge degree of balance to a team’s defence.
First and foremost, Hermoso is left-footed, a rare and sought after breed when it comes to centre-backs.
On top of that, he is a ball-playing defender, the type of footballer who can advance up the pitch and then play a delicious pass in behind the opposition’s defence.
After Thomas Partey left Atletico last summer, Hermoso took it upon himself to take up similar areas on the pitch. This may sound bizarre when you consider he was playing in defence, but such was Simeone’s high line that the Spaniard advanced and essentially played as a deep-lying playmaker.
Analysis from Robbie Dunne labels his passing as “dangerous” and it’s clear to see why.
Via FB Ref, the centre-half ranks in the 93rd percentile for passes into the final third and in the 97th percentile for progressive passes across Europe's top five leagues. Furthermore, Hermoso is in the 98th percentile for low passes, indicating that he prefers to keep possession on the floor.
The Atletico gem is not a classic defender but this is perfect for Benitez who already has more robust players in his armoury.
Even at a hefty price tag, he'd be an excellent acquisition for the Merseyside outfit.