According to a report by Mirror, Everton are keeping close tabs on Atalanta defender Gianluca Mancini. The Premier League outfit are expected to make a move for him in the summer in order to tighten the screws at the back.
While Kurt Zouma is on loan from Chelsea, Michael Keane, Phil Jagielka and Yerry Mina are the other prominent centre-backs on the books of Marco Silva. However, Jagielka is arguably in his last season with the Toffees therefore, Mancini would be a good addition to their arsenal.
Here is a SWOT analysis of this highly rated defender who is apparently on Everton’s radar.
Strengths
Mancini is one of the best young defenders in the game owing to his exceptional pace, athleticism and exuberance. He is a modern-day central defender who has the inclination to build attacking endeavours from the back.
Aerially, he is a dominating package and he distributes the ball in a precise fashion. He is a decent reader of the game, is good at bullying the opposition and hardly loses his grip in pressure situations. His work-rate is unquestionable and is something Marco Silva will acknowledge in the present competitive nature of the league.
In 14 appearances for Atalanta so far this campaign in Serie A, Mancini has scored 4 goals and has registered 1 assist, which is a testament to his offensive prowess. Besides, he has made 1.1 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 2.6 clearances per game on an average.
Weaknesses
Committing unnecessary fouls is one of the few weaknesses of the Italian. He has to be much more disciplined at the back and improve his decision-making. Besides, he exposes his side’s defence due to his inclination to get forward and he needs to bring more balance to his game.
Opportunities
Everton are in the process of rebuilding themselves and they do need a long-term successor to Jagielka. As mentioned earlier, the Blues are a little shallow in the central defensive department and signing a talented player like Mancini would make a lot of sense.
If his move to the Goodison Park materializes, the former Perugia defender would get the chance to ply his trade on a massive stage and the scope of his growth will be endless at the onset.
Threats
In the event of a move, Mancini might struggle due to lack of game time during his first season and therefore has to be in possession of dollops of patience and will have to make the most of the chances he gets. More often than not, young players coming from other leagues find it difficult to adjust after making the early transition to the Premier League and his progress could be hindered under pressure and a wrong and impatient approach.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored
