Everton are being linked with a move for Saints defender Cuco Martina to replace broken leg victim Seamus Coleman.

Saints fans will be surprised and Everton supporters perhaps horrified to hear that Ronald Koeman is rumoured to be planning on signing Coco Martina in the summer.

Although Martina will be available on a free transfer the surprise is not that Koeman is in for the defender, after all he tried to sign him back in August before the injury to Jeremy Pied meant that Saints needed Martina as cover, but that with all the money that Koeman allegedly has at his disposal that he is looking to Martina ahead of spending or even bringing in a product of Everton's academy.

Martina was preferred to Cedric Soares by Koeman in the final third of last season, which was surprising and although he had plenty of energy and running he did not have the footballing quality of Soares and it was clearly a case of a problem between the Portuguese full back and manager.

This season Soares has been first choice and Martina has been restricted in his game time, under Puel Martina has fallen out of favour and hasn't appeared in the Premier League since the final day of 2016, Jack Stephens being preferred as cover initially.

Now Martina is being linked with a move away and although he is Ok at times, he is a strange signing for Everton and if I was a fan of the Toffee's I would be slightly baffled.

From Saints point of view he is unlikely to feature for the club again with Jeremy Pied now returned from long term injury.

Martina was a stop gap when Koeman arrived at St Mary's but he was always intended as cover for Coyne and his game time has reflected that, yes he will be a cheap option for Everton in the same role and he has not been without his moments, but overall he has plenty of running but little footballing nouns or positional defence, he is not what the Everton faithful will demand.

Photo: Action Images

CraftyBarrel1 added 10:11 - Apr 12 We could do a special deal for RK and include Gardos.
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wibbersda added 11:22 - Apr 12 Although not good enough for us anymore he will always be remembered as having scored the best goal in Saints History....bring on the debate!
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SanMarco added 11:55 - Apr 12 I'd forgotten about Martina - yes sell. And if I was a fan of the Toffees I would also be slightly baffled by that apostrophe.....
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SaintWick added 13:18 - Apr 12 Can we sell a player who's contract has run out????? But yes certainly let him leave, by far our worst player
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SanMarco added 14:06 - Apr 12 You're right SaintWick - as the article says it would be a free...
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codge added 15:55 - Apr 12 Let him go, the fans of Everton must be waiting with baited breath, not really.
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Consigliere added 20:34 - Apr 12 Full marks to SanMarco, I had to read this article three times before I spotted the misplaced apostrophe. Very funny
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saintmark1976 added 22:28 - Apr 12 Martina may not be a sophisticated attacking full back but he could at least defend and he always put in a shift. Should he go to Everton I for one will wish him well.Particularly for making my Christmas when he scored the opening goal in our four nil humiliation of Arsenal and their ever moaning manager.
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ElGreco2 added 23:08 - Apr 12 Take no notice of the red tops, Martina is not going to Everton, there are better player in their acadamy.
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Cjay80 added 09:42 - Apr 13 This is just lazy journalism once again. Saints player linked with Everton/Liverpool/Spurs is boring. Martina - nice guy, fast, dedicated, tried hard but, too often making a run up front when we lost possession and his gaping hole was exploited, or got into a great position for a killer cross and past it sideways or backwards instead. Will always be remembered for that awesome goal against Arsenal but he ain't good enough to be our second choice, he ain't going to be Everton's either.

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steve73 added 11:53 - Apr 13 My main worry is this could be the old 'stalking horse' trick. Get everyone round the table on the pretence of wanting Martina and then when you have everybody's attention slap a bid for van dyke on the table. It's a sneaky way of getting in to clubs who've announced that they won't hold discussions over a certain player. Might be garbage of course but I remember Clough talking about using this tactic in his autobiography.

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bstokesaint added 12:27 - Apr 13 Steve, hear what you’re saying, but VVD is well out of Everton’s league. A move to anyone domestically other than Man U, Man C or Chelski would be a hugely unambitious move by him. I’m still hoping he’ll stay one more season until he gets that lifetime career move.
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aceofthebase added 21:11 - Apr 13 Caught out of position upfield. Thought you were talking about Cedric but somehow Cedric is excused.
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the_saint added 15:20 - Apr 14 Always out of position can't cross for toffee but what a wonder goal against Arsenal all the best cuco on your next adventure. Get rid of Gardos and target freeing up some wages for another centre back, on saying that Yoshi and the ever improving Stephens have been playing very well
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