According to the Liverpool Echo’s Phil Kirkbride, Everton are in talks to sign River Plate defender Ramiro Funes Mori.
So who exactly is Ramiro Funes Mori and is he the man to challenge John Stones and Phil Jagielka for a starting position?
The 24-year-old was born in Mendoza, Argentina and has played every one of his senior games in his native country for River Plate. The centre half has made 72 appearances for Loss Millonarios and has scored six goals in that time.
Mori was seen as one of the players that saw River Plate take home both the Copa Libertadores in August and the Argentina Primera Division Superfinal.
The centre half also has one Argentina call up to his name and will be hoping to add to that in the future. At only 24 – a young age for a centre back – there is nothing to stop him from reaching that goal and the exposure of the Barclays Premier League can only help that.
The rumoured fee is £5.5 million and with Sylvain Distin and Antolin Alcaraz being released from the club it is almost certain that blues boss Roberto Martinez will recruit in that area and it looks like he is set on Mori. The defender is also a left-sided player which Martinez stated in the past he wanted.
If the deal is completed it would see Mori become the Blues fifth transfer of a frustrating off-season for the blues. Gerard Deulofeu, Tom Cleverley, David Henen and Mason Holgate have all signed on the dotted line this summer.
