Everton are plotting a move for Besiktas’ star Oguzhan Ozyakup to stabilize an out-of-sort midfield this season. Arsenal too are interested to resign the player who left for the Turkish side back in 2012 for a meagre fee of £400,000, an interesting replacement for out of contract Mesut Özil. Besiktas has valued him at £10 million after his stellar performances helped them lift the Super Lig title two consecutive years. He looks a different player altogether since his departure from the Premier League.
Everton have had problems almost all over the pitch this term. While a major one has been the failure to address a suitable replacement for Romelu Lukaku, another has been the midfield that is currently deficient in ideas. A lack of creativity among the central players with the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin and Idrissa Gueye featuring in the bulk of Everton’ games, they are yet to register a single assist or goal. These probably attribute to the goal drought they have been facing having found the net just 10 times in 11 appearances in the league.
Ozyakup in that respect can provide the much-needed spark in the middle of the pitch. The central midfielder has 2 assists to his name and holds an average of 1.8 key passes per game, a figure surpassing Everton’s current midfielders Schneiderlin and Gueye. His pinpoint balls to switch the play can aid the front-runners and cut open opponent defences.
Despite the accolades he holds to the attacking side of the game, his defensive work-rate is an area of worry. The Turkish player 1.6 tackles and 0.6 interceptions per game, a figure that should considerably higher for a player in his position.
However the move opens up the possibility of playing a 3 man midfield for David Unsworth in order to let Ozyakup do his trade in the attacking areas while letting Gueye and Schneiderlin protect the team from counter-attacks. It also gives the Everton manager leverage to try and deploy Sigurdsson centrally as he has had little joy playing out wide.
Everton’s moves have come 42% from the right, 30% from the left and centrally just 27%. Lack of cohesiveness among the central players is posing huge problems for Everton given that their opponents are able to decode their game plan well ahead.
It is now evident that the absence of Lukaku is not the only problem they need to address. A solid spine that is able to channelize and control the game is a need of the hour for David Unsworth’s side. Ozyakup’s move to Goodison Park might just provide that bit of stability and cutting edge to their play.
