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Marcel Brands favourite Santiago Arias might wish rumoured Everton transfer happened now

Mathew Nash

Wed 16 October 2019 9:45, UK

This summer, Everton were linked with a move for Atletico Madrid defender Santiago Arias. It was reported in June by the that Everton had an interest in the £11 million rated Colombian defender. 

There was plenty of good reason behind this interest as well. 

Everton needed to bring in right-back cover and Arias was signed by director of football Marcel Brands during his time at PSV Eindhoven. 

As Brands , Arias is ‘the perfect model of a modern defender’. So there was every reason for Everton to be interested in Arias.

But the deal never came off, with Everton eventually pulling in French World Cup winner Djibril Sidibe from Monaco on loan instead.

Arias stuck with Atletico, where first-team football was appeared to be far more likely than in the previous season. 

Juanfran left the club for Sao Paulo whilst returning loanee Sime Vrsaljko is nursing a long-term injury. 

However, Arias might now be wishing he had made the move to Everton. 

Atletico signed Kieran Trippier from Tottenham Hotspur and the England international has had something of a resurgence in form at the Wanda Metropolitano. Arias has therefore played just once in La Liga this season and has subsequently lost his place in Carlos Quieroz’s Colombia team. 

He will undoubtedly be wondering if he should have pushed for a move to Everton this summer, even if the Toffees are struggling for form.