Premier League duo Aston Villa and Everton are reportedly interested in making a summer move for Burnley veteran Ben Mee.
According to Daily Mirror, Premier League clubs Everton and Aston Villa are leading the race to land Burnley centre-back Ben Mee in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The 32-year-old has been a seasoned veteran for the Clarets for 11 years. The English defender was with Burnley when they gained promotion to the Premier League and also saw their relegation to the Championship this past season. It is fair to say that a cycle has come to an end at Turf Moor.
A very experienced player, Mee can still be an asset for Premier League clubs looking to shore up their defensive units. Good at reading attacks and also strong in the air, the Englishman is an old fashioned centre-back who thrives on physicality and athleticism.
Both Aston Villa and Everton are keeping tabs on the 32-year-old and are primed to make a summer move. Mee is out of contract this summer, meaning that, he can be signed for a Bosman move. Landing a player of his ability for free could prove to be a shrewd piece of business for any team.
Steven Gerrard has done well at Villa Park but has failed to guide Aston Villa to a consistent run of results. A major reason for this was their defence that was leakier than a sieve when dipped in water. The late collapse to Manchester City on the final day of the campaign was a perfect encapsulation of that.
Tyrone Mings has proven himself to be a liability, while Ezri Konsa has been linked with a move away from Aston Villa. While Mee cannot be a player around whom the Aston Villa defence is rebuilt, he could be a short-term solution to their woes.
Everton, if anything, are leakier still and conceded several cheap goals this past season. Frank Lampard’s side might have staved off relegation, but they still have much work to do to avoid being in the same pickle again. Michael Keane has been a disaster, while Yerry Mina has struggled with injuries.
Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate have much to learn and are far from ready to take over as first-choice centre-backs. The experience that 32-year-old Mee can add to Everton’s backline could prove priceless.
Gerrard and Lampard often competed against one another in their playing days. It would now appear that they are set to rekindle that rivalry as managers. This might not be the last time that the Aston Villa manager and the Everton boss face off against each other in the transfer market.
