Everton had a flying window in terms of incoming transfers. But they hit the panic button towards the closure and overspent on Alex Iwobi after failing to land Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace. However, the attack looks intriguing enough, as is the midfield following the arrival of Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Fabian Delph along with Andre Gomes whose loan move was made permanent earlier this summer.
However, the Toffees have missed out on strengthening their backline in the aftermath of Phil Jagielka and Kurt Zouma’s exit. Jagielka rejoined his boyhood club Sheffield United after 12 years of association with Everton. On the other hand, Zouma, who had an impressive loan stint, returned to Chelsea.
The departure of David Luiz and Gary Cahill should see the Frenchman grabbing a starting role in West London. The Merseysiders, therefore, have entered the new season with three natural centre-backs in Michael Keane, Yerry Mina and Mason Holgate.
“OK [having only three centre-halves] is not the best scenario for us. It is what it is. People are just looking at who we sign – but 18 football players left our club. I don’t like to speak about those numbers but I know people will say again Everton spent this and this. But in the end, if you put the balance, we spent £28 million.”
Marco Silva is aware of (as quoted by Goal) his wafer-thin central defensive line and blamed the market inflation that refrained him from striking the desired deals.
Why This Might Haunt Everton Later In The Campaign
Michael Keane had a difficult start to his Everton career. But he settled in soon in Merseyside and delivered a towering display in the heart of their defence. Yerry Mina partnered the Englishman against the Eagles and the Colombian, despite his fitness concerns in the recent past, has been relied upon as their preferred defensive option. Youngster Mason Holgate has mostly been utilised sporadically as he failed to cement his place in spite of opportunities.
Seamus Coleman, Lucas Digne, Leighton Baines and new recruit Djibril Sidibe – all of their fullbacks are aggressive and attacking-minded, and therefore, would be vulnerable if deployed as a makeshift centre half during the crisis period.
How To Cope With This Crisis
Everton have no European football to concentrate on, and the congestion of the Cup contests can be handled by banking on the youth. Homegrown prodigy Callum Connolly should be handed senior minutes in such fixtures whereas new signing Jean-Philippe Gbamin, capable of featuring as a centre-back, could be a part of Silva’s ‘Plan B’.
Yet the Blues must rope in a new name as soon as the window reopens in winter and avoid another spell of disappointment while chasing a place in Europe.
