Why Everton must beat Merseyside rivals Liverpool to sign Domagoj Vida

According to a report by Leicester Mercury, Everton are interested in a move for Besiktas defender Domagoj Vida this summer. Croatia may have lost the World Cup to France but they won people’s hearts with their spirited performances in Russia.

And out of the lot, Vida certainly stood out with his bullish and no-nonsense defending skills throughout the tournament. And his hairstyle certainly worked in his favour as it was quite tough to miss his presence amidst all the madness of the field.

Interestingly enough, the Toffees were lurking for a possible move even before their Merseyside rivals Liverpool joined the race. As per a report by Turkish news outlet Sabah, Everton were eyeing a summer transfer well before the World Cup had even started.

Now, however, with Liverpool in the mix, it might be tough for the Toffees to pursue Vida. But given his skills and power, Everton must do everything they can to beat the Reds and sign the talented defender.

Following Vida’s scintillating performances for Croatia, it goes without saying that his price will increase but that should not deter the Toffees. After spending bid last summer, Everton failed to make an impact but this time, things are looking different.

With Marco Silva at the helm, the club must assemble a new-look squad and to that end, a move for Vida certainly makes sense. After all, he is a true game-changer and his presence could potentially make a world of difference for Everton at the back.

The Toffees shipped out a good number of goals last season and it was clear their defenders were not strong enough. The likes of Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka are both on the wrong side of 30 whereas Michael Keane was not convincing enough.

However, he could revive his career alongside Vida’s presence. A good centre-back can extract the best out of the most underperforming players and it will be interesting to see if Keane can work wonders next season.

The 29-year-old moved to Besiktas from Dynamo Kiev only in January but now, it looks like he could be on his way to the Premier League.

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Known for his dynamic skills on the ground and in the air, he seems like the best solution to the club’s long-term defensive woes. Hence, if Everton succeed in beating Liverpool to acquire his signature, it will be a massive statement of intent.