Marco Silva has let it be known on more than one occasion that he is keen for Marcel Brands to complete a deal which will see Kurt Zouma remain on Merseyside beyond his loan spell.
Our Director of Football’s efforts cannot be put to the test until the season is over and the French defender decides if he would be open to staying a Toffee, rather than returning to Stamford Bridge where he may not be first choice, however.
Chelsea are also yet to confirm whether the £18million-rated centre-back is up for sale, as they are still awaiting the outcome of their appeal into a two-window transfer ban for breaching regulations on signing players under 18, which began on April 11.
With no guarantees that Zouma will be an option in the summer, it appears Brands has begun to look for potential other defenders who can compliment Michael Keane and Yerry Mina next term.
Mundo Deportivo reported on Thursday that we, and Leicester City, would be making another move for Getafe ace Djene Dakonam once the window opens, after seeing offers for the 27-year-old knocked back last summer.
How much said offer would be was not noted, but what was claimed was that the Togolese international’s contract contains a €35million (£29.9m) release clause, and that Arsenal boss Unai Emery has made the 5 ft 8 defender one of his objectives for next season.
The La Liga outfit will also be looking to retain Dakonam’s services, should they qualify for Europe, as the 34-cap ace has been key to their efforts under Pepe Bordalas this term – making 36 appearances across all competitions.
At present, the Azulones hold the final Champions League spot the Spanish top-flight has to offer thanks to their superior head-to-head record with Sevilla, and are five points clear of missing out on Europe altogether with three games remaining.
As for Dakonam, the Coliseum Alfonso Perez native’s number two has averaged 1.6 tackles, 2 interceptions and 1.5 fouls per game in La Liga this season, and has been a part of ten top-flight clean sheets – the Lome Dapaong-born defender has also played in central midfield twice.
When Mundo Deportivo’s report of our interest in Dakonam was later shared on the R/Everton Reddit page, this is what some Toffees supporters made of the news…
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