Everton given transfer boost in pursuit of Leighton Baines’ replacement

With Leighton Baines retiring, there will be a lot of transfer news regarding Everton’s pursuit of a replacement this summer. Lucas Digne should remain our first-choice left-back next season and Carlo Ancelotti may be lining up Sergio Reguilon for €20m (£18m) to be his backup.

Talks with Real Madrid are believed to be at an early stage, but Mundo Deportivo’s report on Monday suggests we have a great opportunity to land his signature. Real want to raise funds for new arrivals this summer and are willing to part company with Reguilon among others.

The 23-year-old has made 22 appearances in all competitions for Real, notching three assists. He’s struggled to nail down a starting place, however, spending last season on loan at Sevilla (July 5, 2019 – July 20, 2020), so a move away looks on the cards.

Reguilon came off the back of a positive campaign at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, making 32 appearances while scoring two goals and bagging four assists, but why are Everton happy to pay so much for the left-back?

Baines made nine appearances in his final season, amassing less than 500 minutes across the board, so Everton only need backup to Digne rather than competition for a starting place.

We could benefit from signing a right-back to replace Djibril Sidibe if Jonjoe Kenny isn’t given a reprieve, a centre-back to accompany Mason Holgate, Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and Jarrad Branthwaite if Lewis Gibson is loaned out, a centre-midfielder to replace Morgan Schneiderlin as Fabian Delph has struggled in his debut season, a winger that’s an improvement on Theo Walcott and a striker to replace Cenk Tosun who is also an improvement on Moise Kean, so Reguilon shouldn’t be made a priority.

That’s not to say he isn’t a good player, however. The Spaniard has created 41 chances, made 49/69 successful dribbles, won 40/80 aerial duels, whipped in 100 crosses, blocked 36 shots/passes/crosses, made 42 clearances and averaged a tackle (57) or interception (33) every 28 minutes on loan at Sevilla this season.

Reguilon wouldn’t be a bad addition, but Digne is more than good enough at left-back. It makes far more sense to target a cheaper defender that is happy to play second fiddle with all the positions that we need to strengthen.