Everton did not have the best start to life under Ronald Koeman and to be fair, it has not been the worst either. The Toffees look much improved compared to how they were under Roberto Martinez last season but there is still plenty of areas to improve.
Everton do have the cash to splash and there is no short of intent. All things added up, we can expect plenty of action from the Toffees in the upcoming transfer window.
We are just a few days away from the January transfer window and Koeman certainly is planning for it by keeping the Toffees’ areas of improvement in mind. According to France Football, the Merseyside club have let French Ligue 1 side know about their interest in winger Nicolas Pepe who is also wanted by Lyon and Newcastle United. We at The 4th Official, take a look at whether Everton should try to beat Newcastle United for the transfer of this Ligue 1 star.
Goodison Park director of football Steve Walsh helped Leicester City find some brilliant French League based players like Kanté and Mahrez who helped the Foxes mount Premier League success and if he wants the player, he must be special but is he what Everton need right now?
Leicester City were a small club and there was not too much pressure on the likes of Mahrez or Kanté but at Everton, Pepe will be expected to make an immediate impact which is hard for a player who has so little experience abroad.
Pepe impressed for Orleans in last season’s National League and has so far performed well in France’s top flight, scoring twice and providing one assist in five starts. He has come off the bench on 13 occasions and is certainly making a name for himself in France which is why clubs like Lyon and Everton want him but it would be a risky move from the Toffees.
Everton are in a dire need of quality wingers right now. Yannick Bolasie could be out for the rest of the season while Kevin Mirallas has struggled to do well on a regular basis. Gerard Deulofeu and Aaron Lennon been poor whenever they have been given their opportunity.
In the circumstances, Everton’s target should be a more proven winger, unlike Pepe. I am not saying that he is a bad player but will the 21-year-old be even an upgrade on the likes of Deulofeu or Lennon? I doubt so.
On top of that, Pepe will be unavailable during January for his national commitment to Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations. Everton moving for him makes the least sense. Koeman has the financial backing of Farhad Moshiri and should rather look for more proven players.
