Everton’s most expensive ever full-backs and where Raoul Bellanova could rank

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It’s no secret that Everton are after a new right-back, and Raoul Bellanova appears to be a genuine target.

Everton have today confirmed the signing of Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough, which has pleased supporters after the midfielder finished last season as the Championship’s best player.

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But there will be a demand to keep the foot on the gas – and right-back is most definitely a priority position.

And in recent weeks, there have been suggestions that Raoul Bellanova of Atalanta is a player Everton are keen on.

But he would not come cheap.

Where Raoul Bellanova could rank if Everton signed full-back

Evertonians would really like to see a top option come in at right-back.

It’s been a problem position for a while now, with Jake O’Brien having looked shaky towards the end of last season.

Many would be more than happy to see a considerable amount of money spent if it meant the player would lock the position down.

And quite possibly, it will take a fair bit of money to sign Bellanova.

Sport Italia have reported today that Atalanta are demanding about €20-25 million to sell the player.

If Atalanta held out for the top end of that price range and sold Bellanova for €25 million (£21 million) then that would see the Italian become Everton’s most expensive full-back signing ever.

The current list looks like this:

• #1 Lucas Digne – £18m
• #2 Vitalii Mykolenko – £17m
• #3 Nathan Patterson – £11.5m
• #4 Adam Aznou – £8m
• #5 Leighton Baines – £6m
• #6 Niels Nkounkou – £250,000
• #7 Seamus Coleman – £60,000

Ben Godfrey played quite a few games as a full-back during his time at the club. But when he was signed for £25 million plus add-ons from Norwich City, he was a centre-back.

So if Everton did make a move for the Italian this summer, Bellanova could easily be a new name to sit at the top of this list.

And it’s easy to see why Moyes would want to move for him.

The star has a strong physical profile and is tall for a wing-back at 6ft 2in. We know David Moyes likes height in his backline, and while he’s not quite Jake O’Brien, Bellanova would bring physicality and likely be good for aerial duels.

Bellanova has tended to play more as a wing-back due to the favoured system at Atalanta, so unless Moyes is planning a big change, it would be an interesting adaptation for him.