Everton were scouting Baptiste Santamaria, could finally replace Idrissa Gana Gueye

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Everton and Tottenham Hotspur were reportedly set to continue scouting talented French midfielder Baptiste Santamaria this season, until the global health crisis shut down football in France. 

As reported by The Express, Everton and Spurs had both watched the Angers midfielder on a ‘handful of occasions’.

The 25-year-old has been impressive in his defensive midfield role at the Stade Raymond Kopa and is attracting interest from a host of clubs in England and around Europe. 

Everton are clearly in need of central midfield recruitment. Last summer, Fabian Delph, Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Andre Gomes all arrived at the club, but all three have had injury troubles this season. 

Gbamin, in particular, was signed from Mainz to act as the replacement for Idrissa Gana Gueye, who left for Paris Saint-Germain. 

But he has suffered with a thigh injury, restricting the Ivory Coast international to just two appearances for the Toffees. 

Santamaria is very much a player in the Gueye mold, much more interested in doing the defensive dirty work than getting forward and scoring goals and Everton would undoubtedly have liked to see a Gueye replacement arrive this summer. 

Spurs are in a similar position with Santamaria’s countryman Tanguy Ndombele struggling since a summer move. 

However, it appears any scouting of the player is now on hold and Everton and Spurs might end up missing out on the player as a consequence.