Everton Opinion: Why the Toffees should go all out for Juanpe Ramirez?
According to a report from the Liverpool Echo, Everton are interested in signing Girona defender Juanpe Ramirez this summer.
The 28-year-old was a permanent fixture for Girona in 2018/19, making 33 Liga appearances but the side suffered relegation from the La Liga in May. Despite conceding over 50 goals in La Liga, Juanpe was one of the rare shining lights in the Girona defence.
He has a contract until 2022, but following relegation Girona know it is difficult to keep hold of their star defender. With that in mind, Everton must go all out to sign the Spanish defender in a bid to strengthen their backline ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.
The Toffees are looking for a central defender following the departures of Phil Jagielka and Kurt Zouma. Zouma has returned back to Chelsea following the expiry of his loan spell, but Everton boss Marco Silva is very much keen to sign him permanently from the Blues.
The French defender was a huge hit among Everton supporters as he proved a reliable defender, forming a strong partnership with Michael Keane. His future remains unclear at Chelsea given the competition for a place, with Antonio Ruddier and David Luiz having been prioritised last season under Maurizio Sarri. But new boss Frank Lampard hasn’t made a decision yet and if the Toffees fail to bring in Zouma, Silva must consider Juanpe.
Juanpe has shown that he has the quality to succeed at this level. He is known for his strength in the air as his imposing figure not only hands him a considerable advantage in terms of aerial duels but also makes him dangerous during set-pieces. The Spaniard is composed in possession, a good reader of the game and a tough-tackler, who never shies away from flying into challenges to win back possession.
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The 28-year-old centre-half has all the qualities to cope with the rigours of the Premier League next season. Juanpe, in that regard, might have been a logical target for the Toffees. At the age of 28, he is at the prime of his career and could be a fantastic investment for Silva’s side.
Verdict
Juanpe wouldn’t break the bank, but he could solve a key position for Everton ahead of the 2019/20 season. Hence, Silva must attempt to bring the Spanish defender to Goodison Park this summer.