Everton are close to signing Algeria international Ramy Bensebaini in a £13m deal from French outfit Rennes.

The versatile 23-year-old featured 29 times in the French League 1 for Rennes last season helping the side to secure a 5th place finish. During the season, Bensebaini mostly played left back for the French outfit but also provided cover for the centre halves when called upon. His natural position however is as a left-sided centre back.

After a slow start to the transfer window on the blue side of Merseyside, Everton fans have reacted excitedly to the news.

On the whole Everton fans are optimistic about Bensebaini and what he could bring to the team. Although the announcement of the news has sparked speculation on social media that the much discussed move for Celtic’s left back Kieran Tierney is now off.

Whether that is true is at this point uncertain. Everton could well have brought the Algerian in to play as a centre-half and may well still intend to bring in the young Scotsman as well.