CUCO WALTZES IN AT EVERTON FOR BIG SHOW
Benitez confident he is in control of the £70M summer transfer fund
RAFA BENITEZ hopes Newcastle owner Mike Ashley does not make him regret turning his back on a Chinese fortune.
CUCO MARTINA joined up with his old boss and then promised Everton fans they are going places this season. The former Southampton rightback (below) played under Ronald Koeman on the south coast. But he was out of contract at Saints and yesterday penned a threeyear deal at Goodison. MIDDLESBROUGH have completed a £15million deal for Britt Assombalonga.
The Nottingham Forest striker scored 30 goals in 65 League games for the club.
New boss Garry Monk wants Assombalonga (above), 24, to fire Boro back into the Premier League. Top-flight Watford Versatile Martina, 27, said: “Everton is a big club with big ambitions and I’m really looking forward to joining this group of players.
“Everton supporters are really passionate about their club and everyone’s excited about where the club is aiming.
“You can see this is a club that wants to achieve something and the players we are bringing in certainly show this.”
Martina is the latest signing in a summer that has seen Everton spend close to £100million on the likes of Wayne Rooney, Sandro Ramirez and Jordan Pickford.
Koeman said: “Cuco Martina is an experienced player who can perform in different positions at the back, which is important.” and Burnley were also keen.
But Monk is being given a big transfer warchest by owner Steve Gibson.
He has already brought in Jonny Howson, Cyrus Christie and last night he added Assombalonga.
Forest are also chasing Luton’s James Justin, 19, with the Hatters resigned to losing the full-back.