According to reports in the Daily Mail, Everton are already preparing for the January transfer window and are targeting a move for FC Porto centre-back Ivan Marcano.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Daily Mail says that the Toffees scouted the 30-year-old last month ahead of the summer window slamming shut, but the Portuguese giants were only willing to sell their captain for an inflated fee as his current contract runs out next summer.

Marcano ended up staying with Porto and it means that he will be free to talk to foreign clubs in the New Year unless he extends his deal in the meantime, and the Daily Mail says the Merseyside outfit are ready to return for him then.

Ronald Koeman had said that he wanted to bring in a left-sided centre-back during the summer, and the Spaniard certainly fits the bill.

Despite bringing in nine first-team players over the course of the last few months, the Dutchman clearly isn’t satisfied with how his squad is shaping up just yet.

Would Marcano be a good signing for Everton?

He certainly would be, but it might be strange if they did sign him in January rather than next summer.

The Toffees currently have Michael Keane, Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams as their centre-back options, while Ramiro Funes Mori could return at the start of 2018 having suffered a serious knee injury while on international duty with Argentina in March.

While Jagielka and Williams are certainly getting no younger, Koeman would surely have too many options if he did bring Marcano to Goodison Park in January, considering he would likely want to be playing regularly as he is the current Porto captain.

That said, Everton have been playing with three centre-backs so far this season and they may well still be competing in the Europa League by then if they come through the group stages.

What’s the verdict, then?

Well, there seems little doubt that Everton will move for Marcano in January, but if they win the race for his signature it will be interesting to see whether they have him for the second half of the campaign or wait until next summer.

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