Everton have long-term been linked with a move for Rodrigo Becao and now a new update has emerged on the club’s pursuit of the player ahead of the January transfer window.
What’s the latest?
According to Il Messaggero (via Sport Witness), Everton are still scouting the Udinese defender and are plotting a move for the player.
As per the report, the Toffees have been admirers of Becao since the summer but didn’t make their move due to the deal for James Tarkowski but could now make another approach next month.
Lampard needs him
Frank Lampard and the powers at Goodison Park have put in fantastic work to improve the defensive play in the team as the club struck gold with the signings of both Tarkowski and Conor Coady.
The pair have developed a formidable centre-back partnership that saw the club at one stage hold the best defensive record for goal concessions in the entire top flight.
That has left the rest of the Everton defenders with little hope of returning to the first team, however, Lampard must still keep the quality of the depth in his squad at a good level due to the curse that has been Everton’s injury record over the last 18 months.
Yerry Mina – who has been out with numerous injury issues over the last 12 months – is set to be out of contract in the summer and Michael Keane has been linked with a move away from Merseyside in the new year, so it’s safe to say that Lampard needs Becao to make sure he has enough talent in his defensive set up over the second half of the season and beyond.
Over nine Serie A appearances this season, the £11m-valued Brazilian defender – who was hailed “insurmountable” by Bruno Queiroz – has scored one goal and registered one assist as a marker of his attacking credentials.
A modern defender, he has completed 50% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 58.2 touches from his role at the back. Defensively, he has made an eye-catching three tackles, 1.6 clearances and won 6.6 duels per game.
Not only that, Becao ranks in the top 5% of his positional peers in the top five European leagues for tackles, progressive passes received and touches, proving that he is both defensively solid and has attacking strengths too.
Lampard’s biggest priority in the upcoming transfer window will likely be strengthening the presence in the attacking third of the pitch at Goodison Park, however, there is no denying that Becao would be a great piece of business to bolster and protect the defence.
With that being said, it will be interesting to see whether Everton make a move for Becao or not in the January transfer window and whether he could offer a fresh perspective to the centre-back role for the Toffees.