According to Mundo Deportivo, Everton are the ‘most interested’ side in the race for Santiago Arias, whose ‘future is in the air’ at Atletico Madrid.
The 28-year-old has struggled for playing time under Diego Simeone and could be on his way out of the Wanda Metropolitano as a result. Mundo Deportivo say Arias could cost around €15m (£13.1m) this summer.
Everton are on the hunt for a right-back to accompany Seamus Coleman next season as they could be losing Djibril Sidibe, Jonjoe Kenny and Cuco Martina in one transfer window.
The Toffees may not sign Sidibe on a permanent deal after his form dipped in 2020. Kenny has been linked with a move to Arsenal and doesn’t want to return to Everton next season. Martina is out of contract in the coming months and looks destined to be released.
Arias is available after falling down the pecking order in Madrid. The Colombian international joined Atleti in 2018 and made 33 appearances in his debut season. He’s managed only 11 appearances this campaign, however, and finds himself behind Kieran Trippier and Sime Vrsaljko.
His contract runs until 2023, but there’s little reason to stay if he’s only the third choice in the manager’s mind. Arias was an unused substitute 14 times in La Liga and made only two appearances in 2020. But if he was out of favour in Spain, why are Everton convinced he’ll improve their squad?
That comes down to Carlo Ancelotti. The Toffees manager wanted to sign Arias at Napoli before he joined Atleti, but the deal fell through. At the time, the 28-year-old had made 172 appearances in all competitions for PSV Eindhoven, scoring 10 goals and making 21 assists.
Whether Ancelotti will get his man this summer remains to be seen.