Would Real Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez make a good Everton signing this summer?

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 17 May 2021 18:34 BST
• 4 min read

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti could be set to pick up another Real Madrid player this summer in the form of Lucas Vazquez.

Vazquez has been with Real Madrid since his days as a youth player, apart from a short spell at Espanyol, having played for Real Madrid C and B before eventually making his way up to the first team.

However, at 29-years-old he faces the prospect of leaving the club permanently when his contract expires in June.

The Spaniard had previously been involved in talks with Real Madrid about a potential extension, but after those negotiations fell apart, there were no subsequent concrete attempts by the club to convince him to stay.

Todo Fichajes reports that Vazquez will not sign a new contract anyway, and will leave at the conclusion of the 2020/21 season.

Within that report, Everton, Napoli, Valencia and Sevilla are credited with interest in signing him as a free agent this summer.

The Toffees are thought to be leading the race for his signature, so would it be a good move for club and player?

Vazquez to Everton

If Ancelotti can convince James Rodriguez to move from Real Madrid to Everton then he should have no problems in selling Merseyside to Vazquez.

The legendary Italian manager and Vazquez worked together at Real Madrid previously, and although he was never a regular starter in Ancelotti’s tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu, that was due to the fact he had the ‘BBC’ triumvirate of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema ahead of him in the pecking order.

Over the years, Vazquez has developed a reputation as a utility man of sorts, as in his career he has played as a centre-forward, a winger, an attacking midfielder and, more recently, a right-back.

With Real Madrid suffering from absences to Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Odriozola through injury throughout this campaign and indeed in 2019/20, Vazquez has been frequently asked to step in at right-back and has actually done well, which has led to him becoming a trusted lieutenant of Zidane.

Indeed, he has made more starts for Los Blancos this season than Marco Asensio, Isco, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Eden Hazard, and Mariano Diaz, though injury issues for others have admittedly played their part in that.

Everton’s interest begs the question as to where Ancelotti would plan on playing Vazquez, and the answer is probably that he would be used in a similar fashion to Real Madrid, featuring on both wide positions on the right.

Seamus Coleman is 32-years-old, and although extremely fit, is usually Everton’s only option at right-back.

Jonjoe Kenny is on loan at Celtic for now, and depending on his development the Toffees might decide to move him on, which would enhance the need for support at right-back.

Michael Keane and Mason Holgate have played there, too, but are are obvious natural centre-backs.

Within Ancelotti’s favoured 4-3-3 formation, James Rodriguez plays on the right of the front three when fit, and as he cuts inside on his cultured left foot more often than not, the need is there for the full-back to provide width.

Vazquez could be ideal for this, just like Coleman is, though he would also be available to play in James’ position if the Colombian was injured or moved to a more central area in a 4-2-3-1.

Everton have also been actively trying to offload Brazilian winger Bernard and failed to do so in the January transfer window, which means they will pick up their attempts in the summer, opening room for another wide man to arrive.