Report: Everton told to wait after Brands lodges formal bid for £20.7m-rated factotum midfielder
Everton have made a formal bid to sign Inter Milan midfielder Matias Vecino, according to Corriere dello Sport via SempreInter.
Vecino has been at the San Siro for the past two-and-a-half-years after joining the Nerazzurri from Fiorentina in 2017 under the tenure of Luciano Spalletti, who saw that the Uruguayan was a mainstay of his plans when fit.
Antonio Conte has not been as forthcoming with handing Vecino minutes in the Serie A as his predecessor was, with the former Chelsea head coach only calling on the 41-cap international to open ten of Inter’s 19 league fixtures to date.
A muscle injury prevented Vecino from featuring against Parma and Brescia in October, but Vecino has featured in all bar one of the San Siro side’s subsequent matches – including each of the Nerazzurri’s final Champions League Group Stage ties.
Vecino scored his first goal of the season against Borussia Dortmund on matchday four of the Champions League Group Stage, before penning his only Serie A goal of the term to date against Hellas Verona the following Saturday.
The £20.7million-rated central midfielder could soon leave the San Siro, though, as it is claimed that Everton have tabled an ‘important’ offer to sign Vecino this month.
Inter are seemingly open to accepting the bid presented by Director of Football Marcel Brands, as the Italian giant will sanction Vecino’s departure once a new midfielder is added to Conte’s squad.
Would you back a move for Vecino?
Vecino has proven himself to be much of a factotum midfielder for Inter throughout his time at the San Siro, with the Uruguayan as adept at winning possession back as he is at turning his time on the ball into key passes or shots.
The jack-of-all-trades 28-year-old has averaged 2.7 successful tackles from 4.4 attempts per 90 minutes in the Serie A this season under Conte, per WhoScored data, along with 1.4 interceptions, 1.5 clearances, 1.3 blocks and wins 1.2 of his 2.9 aerial duels.
Offensively, Vecino has averaged 36.1 passes, 1.1 key balls, 1.6 shots and has been successful with each of his attempted dribbles.
Ancelotti could do with a player of Vecino’s rounded quality with him at Goodison Park, given the boss is yet to settle on his favoured formation and has on occasion played with two central midfielders in a three-at-the-back line-up.
The Italian will have to endear onwards without Vecino in his plans for the time being if he is indeed keen on the Uruguayan, after Everton were told to wait until Inter have acquired the 28-year-old’s replacement.
In other Everton news, a £10.8m-rated Toffees man has given Ancelotti an ultimatum after discussing his future at Goodison Park.