According to a recent report by Le10Sport, Everton are showing ‘a lot of interest’ in Atletico Madrid winger Thomas Lemar this summer. However, the same source has also mentioned that the Spanish team are ‘very greedy’ about their demands for their prized asset which could end up becoming a stumbling block for the Toffees to overcome during this summer transfer period.
Lemar’s Underwhelming Season At The Wanda Metropolitano
Lemar endured a tough season at the Spanish capital as he struggled to find any sort of productivity in the final third. He featured in 29 matches for Diego Simeone’s side in the previous campaign, receiving a total of 1147 minutes of game time on the field. However, the French wing wizard failed to register a goal or an assist which is a dismal record for a player of his talents.
The 24-year-old was also unavailable for several matches due to a hamstring injury and later, a muscle problem. Lemar was quite inconsistent with his performances and averaged 0.6 shots, 0.4 key passes and 0.9 dribbles per game in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League last season. To his credit, the Atletico flop did manage to complete 84.5% of his attempted passes in league and European football which goes to show how tidy he can be with his ball-distribution (stats via whoscored).
Lemar has also left his mark at the international stage after netting four goals in 22 senior appearances for the French national team. Maybe a switch to Goodison Park this summer could offer him a chance to make a fresh start and find some form so that he can stake a claim in Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps’ squad for next summer’s UEFA European Championship finals.
What Will The French Winger Add To Carlo Ancelotti’s Team?
Lemar can make full use of his electric pace and agility to make some dangerous runs with the ball out on the wide areas. He has terrific ball-control and is usually a composed dribbler in the opposition half. The Frenchman has the vision to pick out a killer pass in the attacking third but has failed to find the finishing touch in front of goal during his time at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
A wide player of Lemar’s technical quality will undeniably be a decent coup for the Toffees if they can get him for a fair price. Carlo Ancelotti has the experience and proven track record and could be the ideal man to get the best out of the underperforming player at the north-west of England next season.
Lemar will not only add more pace and guile to the Everton frontline but also enhance the overall depth of their squad at Merseyside. Plus, he will provide some healthy competition for the likes of Theo Walcott, Bernard, Alex Iwobi, Richarlison and Anthony Gordon in the race to secure regular first-team football at Goodison Park in the coming seasons.
