According to a report from The Daily Telegraph, Everton are eyeing up a double swoop on Barcelona for defenders Lucas Digne and Yerry Mina. The latter impressed greatly for Colombia in their run to the last 16 of the World Cup this summer, while Frenchman Digne didn’t make Didier Deschamps’ squad for the competition, although was included on the standby list for Les Bleus. 

Yet new Toffees boss Marco Silva is reportedly keen on luring both to Goodison Park this summer as part of his Everton overhaul, an ambitious double swoop that, if pulled off, would thrust the Merseysiders into top six contention in the Premier League.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the defensive unit was a clear problem for the Toffees last season given they shipped 58 goals in their 38 Premier League matches, which was more than any side that finished above them in the division, and indeed two more than the relegated duo of Swansea City and West Brom.

Thus, it’s pretty evident what area of the squad Silva simply has to reinforce this summer if he is to take Everton forward, and the additions of Barca duo Digne and Mina would do just that.

24-year-old Digne made the move to the Nou Camp back in 2016 but has been unable to dispose first-choice left back Jordi Alba from the starting eleven, mustering just 46 appearances for the Spanish giants, only 29 of which have come in La Liga.

Yet the left back department is one that definitely needs strengthening at Everton given that Leighton Baines is 33 and out of contract next summer, with it clear from his spell out with injury last season that no-one currently at the club is good enough to fill the Englishman’s shoes – Digne could be though.

And add in the potential arrival of towering centre back Mina, and Silva suddenly has a sturdy and solid backline from which to build going forward.

Like Digne, 23-year-old Mina has found things difficult at Barcelona since his move there from Palmeiras back in January of this year, with the Colombian star managing just six first team appearances under Ernesto Valverde in the second half of last season.

Yet his excellent efforts for his country at this summer’s World Cup, in which he netted three times in three matches to help them reach the knockout stages, appears to have raised his stock considerably.

But it wasn’t just his efforts in the opposition box which impressed many, as Mina struck up a fine partnership at the heart of the Colombian backline with Tottenham’s Davinson Sanchez as, in the three games Mina played, Harry Kane’s penalty for England in the last 16 was the only goal they conceded.

Thus, it’s pretty clear that both Digne and Mina would add a significant amount to a vulnerable Everton backline, a backline that simply has to be improved this summer.

And were those improvements to come in the form of the Barcelona duo, it would thrust the Toffees into top six contention this season.

Everton fans… what do you think? Let us know!