Sam Allardyce wanted Ivan Strinic in 2014, now he must try again

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Back in the summer of 2014 it looked like West Ham United were set to sign Croatian international Ivan Strinic. Sky Sports reported he was set to join West Ham with a fee of around £4 million mooted.

However, no deal ever came off. Despite his club Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk wanting to get a deal done before his contract expired nothing happened. In the end, he left for Napoli on a free the following summer.

The West Ham manager at the time was Sam Allardyce, so should he be interested again. Allardyce is now Everton manager and the Toffees need a new left-back.

Leighton Baines’ fitness has been a concern in recent months. Cuco Martina has been covering for him, but playing out of position to do so.

Strinic is currently at Serie A side Sampdoria but his deal expires this summer. At the moment he has options. He can extend his spell at Sampdoria for another two seasons, but many reports in Italy have suggested AC Milan will be his next destination.

La Gazetta dello Sport reported an agreement was close in February and at the start of this month Tuttosport claimed similar.

As yet, nothing official has or can be agreed between Strinic and Milan. Everton should therefore consider a hijack.

Just four years ago Allardyce was prepared to pay £4 million for the player to be back-up for Aaron Cresswell.

Now the Everton manager has the chance to snap the full-back up for free, if Everton can beat off Milan’s competition.

Undoubtedly the 30-year-old Croatian international should be targeted in the summer. Allardyce is a fan, he would cost nothing and add real quality to the Everton first-team in a weak area of the team.