Santiago Arias is a long-term target for Everton (Getty Images)
According to Daily Mail, Premier League side Everton are pursuing a move Atletico Madrid defender Santiago Arias.
The 28-year-old right-back arrived at Atletico Madrid in 2018 after impressing for former side PSV Eindhoven during his five-year spell there. However, he has never really managed to establish himself in Spain, mostly used a back-up for main man Kieran Tripper this season.
Despite that, Arias has featured 51 times for the Diego Simeone’s side and racked up one goal and three assists in the process, giving a fair glimpse of his potential.
Though Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival stabilised a struggling Toffees side, they still managed to finish a lowly 12th last term, suggesting they are in clear need of reinforcements.
Moreover, the report also claims that Everton have identified Arias as the perfect man to give competition for club captain Seamus Coleman. Toffees skipper Coleman has been the club’s first-choice man at right-back over the years. However, he has started to show signs of ageing, with him undergoing a slip in form.
The 31-year-old full-back managed just one assist last season despite making 27 league appearances, making complete sense of Everton’s interest in Arias. In fact, last season, Everton had roped in Djibril Sidibe as cover for their club captain on loan from Ligue 1 side Monaco.
Sidibe, however, returned to France following the end of loan spell, leaving the Toffees with just academy graduate Jonjoe Kenny as a back-up. 23-year-old Kenny, meanwhile, has never managed to establish himself in the first-team and spent the last season on loan with Schalke.
That said, Everton are clearly making a wise decision by making a move for Arias, who despite his struggles in Spain, is nothing short of experience. The Colombian has already proved himself during his time in Holland, making 172 appearances for Eindhoven.
He has also scored 10 goals and provided 21 assists during those five years, suggesting that he is a talent not to be ignored. Hence, Everton should continue their interest in Arias and land the experienced right-back.
Everton lack depth at right-back and an established player such as Arias would be a welcome addition to Ancelotti’s struggling squad. His arrival will also offer skipper Coleman some competition for a starting spot, which, in turn, would benefit the Toffees. Moreover, Arias is now 28 and still has plenty of football left in him.
