According to a recent report by Spanish news source Marca, Premier League outfit Everton are said to be targeting the services of Real Madrid’s Welsh international speedster Gareth Bale, in what would be an audacious attempt by the Toffees, to say the least.
The report suggests that Carlo Ancelotti is keen to add some elite level players to bolster his Everton squad, and the club seems to have identified Gareth Bale as one of the options. Colombian Star James Rodríguez has also been linked with a potential move to Merseyside.
Gareth Bale still has two years left on his current contract with Los Blancos. It has been suggested that Ancelotti is aware of the fact that it will be quite the challenge for a club like Everton to sign someone of the Welshman’s calibre. The Italian tactician will also be hopeful that the time he spent with Bale at Madrid – a period during which the speedster did produce some exciting football, will be enough to tip the scales in their favour.
What Holes In This Everton Side Would Gareth Bale Fill?
The Merseyside club haven’t had the most consistent of seasons, owing largely to the fact that they’ve found goals quite hard to come by. Although the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison have done well on paper, the lack of creativity from other areas of the pitch has undoubtedly been a concern for the gaffer. Add in the fact that their wide options – Bernard, Alex Iwobi, and Theo Walcott, haven’t been able to grab onto any of the opportunities given to them, and it begins to look like a real problem area.
To that effect, the manager has had to push his midfield players out into the wider roles, with the likes of Tom Davies and Gylfi Sigurdsson often seen filling that slot. The addition of a player like Bale would go a long way for the Toffees, who collectively, certainly have one of the better-built squads in the league. The Welshman’s speed and directness, added to the fact that he’s a top-quality finisher, could be enough to carry Everton back into the top six next season.
The Toffees have suffered in the wide areas all through the campaign, primarily because of an alarming lack of pace. Although former Arsenal man Alex Iwobi has filled the void to a certain extent, the winger just doesn’t seem to have the composure to deliver quality after getting into right positions. Compared to the options that are currently at the gaffer’s disposal, Gareth Bale is a totally different breed.
Is This Transfer Realistically Possible For The Toffees?
There’s no arguing with the fact that Ancelotti was able to bring the best out of Gareth Bale during their time together in Madrid, but bringing a player of that pedigree to Goodison Park does seem like a long shot at best. His salary will undoubtedly be a concern, while the transfer fee that a club like Real Madrid would demand is a whole other matter. Ambitious would surely be the best way to describe this advance from the Merseyside club, and if they’re able to pull it off, it will turn out to be quite the coup by Carlo Ancelotti.
