OPINION
Newcastle United must rescue Everton defender Cuco Martina from his Goodison Park nightmare as the 28-year-old would be the ideal option to sign this summer.
Martina, who earns £35,000-a-week at the Toffees (Source: Sportac) has been banished from training by manager Marco Silva and frozen out of the first-team picture at the squad according to the Liverpool Echo.
The regional newspaper claim that despite playing a lot of minutes for the Toffees last season, Martina’s days at Goodison Park are numbered with Silva aiming to continuing revamping his squad ahead of the new season.
The Magpies must quickly offer Martina a way out of their Premier League rivals as not only will he be a good addition to Rafa Benitez’s squad, the Toffees might look to sell him below his market value as time is ticking down on the transfer window.
It was previously claimed by the Chronicle that the Magpies manager was looking to sign a new full-back in order for him to have enough cover in case his current options are affected by injuries.
Martina is a versatile option for Benitez to pursue as despite naturally being a right-back, he can play as a centre-back or a left-back if required.
The 28-year-old found a lot of his 28 appearances last season being made as a left-back in order to cover for the absence of Leighton Baines and once he settled into his new role, he showed signs that he could excel there.
Martina constantly put in a shift for the Toffees last season when selected and the tough-tackling defender’s work ethic would be greatly appreciated by Benitez.
Also the defender wouldn’t need much time to settle in at St James Park as after playing 45 times in the Premier League, he knows the league very well in order to know what it takes to succeed.
Therefore the Magpies must stage a rescue mission for Martina by swooping in to take him away from Goodison Park and welcome him at St James Park as he would be a decent and achievable signing to make this summer.
