Fiorentina set to agree a deal for Kevin Mirallas

Gianluca Di Marzio has reported that Fiorentina and Everton are close to agreement on a deal which will send Kevin Mirallas on a season-long loan to Florence; with an option to buy of only €2.7 million.

The thirty-year-old winger has gained a vast amount of experience at a top level. He’s played in the Champions League with Olympiacos and the Europa League with Everton, St Etienne and Lille. The Belgian has also, played 60 times for his country and scored ten goals.

Fiorentina only have two players over the age of thirty (Cyril Thereau & Carlos Sanchez), with a young squad Pioli will want players who have been there and done it, Mirallas is exactly that. He’s still got the attributes to be effective in Serie A with his pace and technical ability. He’s been on the periphery with Everton and returned to Olympiacos for the final few months of last season.

What has always kept the Belgian back is his consistency. He reminds me in some ways of Josip Ilicic. On occasions, he has looked like a world beater but he hasn’t necessarily achieved it on a regular basis. He’s found himself being dropped to the bench and often been used as an impact player from the bench. In pre-season he’s even been training alone after being told he’s not part of Marco Silva’s plans at Everton.

Mirallas will no doubt be looking for more minutes after only making eight Premier League appearances. If the deal is completed it will create more competition for places on the flanks and that extra bit of quality in the final third.