Everton are interested in signing Wendell, according to reports from Daily Mail. The Bayer Leverkusen left-back has been identified as a top-target following speculations regarding Leighton Baines’ likely move to MLS this summer.
Chicago Fire and Philadelphia Union are reportedly keen on signing the veteran Everton defender, who could follow Wayne Rooney to America. Thus, the Merseyside giants are eager to sign a replacement with Wendell topping their shortlist.
The Brazilian defender has been one of the most consistent performers for Bayer Leverkusen in the past few years and is a key part of their first team squad. Wendell also has three years remaining on his current contract at Leverkusen but that being said, a move to the Premier League could soon be on the horizon for the 24-year-old.
Last season, in particular, has been a mixed one for Wendell, who managed to appear in 26 matches but faced competition for his spot from new signing Panagiotis Retsos. The Greek international deputized for the Brazilian defender on several occasions and was quite impressive in his debut campaign in the Bundesliga.
Therefore, Wendell is likely to face fierce competition once again for a place in the starting eleven, which might force him to seek pastures new this summer.
Highly regarded as one of Bundesliga’s most promising fullbacks, Wendell, as mentioned earlier, has shown a lot of potential since joining Leverkusen back in 2014. His ability to carve out chances from the left flank has helped him transform into a reliable option for Bayer Leverkusen while he is also quite good at general link-up play. However, his biggest assets definitely lie in the defensive side of the game, with the Brazilian being particularly effective in dealing with counter attacks.
Even though his final ball and rash decision-making can be called into question, at times, Wendell is blessed with sheer pace, thus, making him a tailor-made fit for Everton, who will be lacking any reliable option in the left-back position, should Baines departs the Goodison Park this summer. The likes of Brendan Galloway and Luke Garbutt are way too young to be tasked with the responsibility of being a regular fixture in the starting lineup. Therefore, the acquisition of a top qualify left-back is imperative for Everton this summer.
Following a spending spree last summer, the Toffees have struggled to make an impact in the Premier League and the onus is on newly appointed Marco Silva to resurrect the Merseyside giants. And the addition of Wendell could be a step in the right direction as Everton look to start their resurgence in the Premier League next campaign.