Everton have been linked with a move for Santiago Arias – a player Carlo Ancelotti has been interested in long before he arrived at Goodison Park. The 28-year-old has only spent 18 months at Atletico Madrid but could be on his way out of the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium after falling down the pecking order.
Don Balon stated Atleti’s asking price was around €15m (£13.6m) in July 2019, while Transfermarkt have Arias’ market value at £13.5m and CIES Football Observatory rate the 28-year-old between €15m-€20m (£13.6m-£18.1m). And according to salaries collected by Silly Season, Arias earns €41k-per-week/€2.1m-a-year (£37.2k-per-week/£1.93m-a-year).
Arias joined Atleti from PSV Eindhoven in 2018 and has gone on to make 44 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal and making three assists. The Colombian international was a regular in his debut campaign, but he now finds himself behind new-boy Kieran Trippier at right-back.
As per WhoScored, Arias has made just seven Liga appearances this season. He’s amassed 551 minutes of top-flight football, completed 79.7% of his 236 passes, created eight chances, won 11 aerial duels (73%), completed 66% of his dribbles, had three shots with 33% accuracy, blocked nine shots/crosses/passes, made six clearances, gave away six fouls and averaged a tackle (19) or interception (8) every 20 minutes.
Everton are in the market for another right-back to accompany Seamus Coleman next season. The Toffees signed Djibril Sidibe on loan last summer and could sign the 27-year-old permanently for €14m (£12.6m). Jonjoe Kenny will return to Goodison Park after a successful loan spell at Schalke 04 in the coming months, too.
It’s worth noting that Ancelotti wanted Arias at Napoli before he even joined Atleti, so the 28-year-old could be his preferred pick. Time will tell.