La Liga Defender In Everton’s Radar This Summer: Should Ancelotti Get Him On Board? | OneFootball

In a recent report, AS has stated that Atletico Madrid defender Santiago Arias is on Everton‘s radar this summer. The Toffees rate him quite highly and could orchestrate a move for Arias to strengthen their squad before the summer transfer window slams shut later this year (via AS).

Arias’ Unimpressive Season At The Spanish Capital

The Colombian right-back endured a lacklustre season at the Wanda Metropolitano after struggling to get a regular run of games under his belt over the past 12 months. Arias featured in 18 matches for the Madrid giants in the previous campaign, picking up one assist and one yellow across multiple competitions.

The 28-year-old was defensively solid but lacked the cutting edge going forward. He did well to end last season with an average of 2.6 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 1.2 clearances and 0.9 key passes per game in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. Arias can distribute the ball well out from the back as he completed 79.1% of his attempted passes in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).

The Medellin-born full-back has got a wealth of experience in Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese football but is yet to prove his worth at the highest level. Thus, he will be a risky acquisition for the Toffees based on his recent form in Spanish football.

What Are The Colombian International’s Best Attributes?

Arias is deceptively quick and can use his pace to make some driving runs down the right flank. He is a reliable defender at the back as he is often quick to sense the danger and possesses the ability to pull off some important interceptions inside his half. The 53-time Colombian international is not shy of clearing his lines when being outnumbered by the opposition in and around the penalty box and is one of the hardest-working players in Diego Simeone’s squad.

Should The Toffees Bring Arias On Board This Summer?

Arias will bring a lot of energy and dynamism to Carlo Ancelotti’s defence at Goodison Park. However, his lack of productivity in the attacking third will be a huge concern for the Toffees as they cannot afford to gamble on a player who is untested in the Premier League.

Ancelotti should only launch a move for Arias if he is confident about getting the best out of the player in the coming seasons. Otherwise, the Italian tactician will be better off opting for a safer option rather than fund a move for the under-performing Atletico Madrid right-back.

At 28, Arias needs to up his game big time if he intends to be a success story in European football. However, for that to happen, he would require an opportunity from a top club like Everton so that he can get a prominent stage to reignite his career at the highest level.