Everton are heading into a make-or-break week. The club are currently looking into a move for Genoa defender Brooke Norton-Cuffy. Reports from Football Insider say the Toffees see the 22-year-old former Arsenal prospect as a top target.
Everton’s Late Window Decision: Norton-Cuffy Targets Goodison Switch
They want to strengthen their backline before the window closes. Keith Wyness, the club’s former chief executive, told the outlet that a final decision on the right-back should come within the next seven days.
Wyness now runs a consultancy for elite clubs. He described Norton-Cuffy as a real talent with the kind of attacking style that works in the Premier League. The interest in the youngster comes as Nathan Patterson’s future remains up in the air. Patterson showed what he could do early on with some great games for Scotland and solid moments in the first team.
However, constant injuries have kept him from kicking on at Goodison Park. Wyness thinks Patterson might leave, likely on loan. If he does, it leaves a massive hole in the squad. Everton’s bosses have to decide now if they will let Patterson go and, at the same time, make a move for Norton-Cuffy. These coming days are vital. The board has to compare the need for players right now against the club’s long-term bank balance.
“Well, look, he is a talent. He’s a very good attacking fullback. I looked into him, and he is definitely, he’s the right age. I think, what, 22?
“Definitely a prospect. Again, we started to see some signs from Nathan Patterson at last. I mean, I remember when Nathan scored, sorry, he didn’t score, but he was playing some great games for Scotland, and he really looked a class full back, but it never quite worked out with him with injuries and different things.
“And he was one of the acquisitions back in the Rafa Benitez time at Everton. But I think, again, it’s going to be a decision whether he goes out, possibly on loan, which has been talked about, or he goes out on a sale, and we bring in this Norton-Cuffy, who does without doubt look like a decent prospect going forward.
“He is stronger going forward than he is in defence, but I think with the way that the defensive options are shaping up, that might be something that Moyes quite likes. So it’s going to be another one that’s going to be a decision that’s going to come down to the wire, and it’ll be made over the next seven days, I’m sure.”
Tactical Analysis: A Moyes-Style Full-Back?
Historically, David Moyes favoured full-backs who could defend robustly but still had the engine to get forward on the break. Norton-Cuffy has the physical traits for that, though he definitely focuses more on attacking. The Englishman’s stats at Genoa show he is best when running into open space. He provides the kind of width Moyes typically wants from his wide defenders.
Still, there are doubts about his defensive focus in a strict back four. Moyes usually expects his players to be in the perfect spot at all times. Patterson often found it hard to do consistently.
If the manager goes with wing-backs, Norton-Cuffy’s ability to carry the ball forward becomes a real threat. In a standard back four, though, the manager would have to spend a lot of time coaching him. He would need to make sure Norton-Cuffy hits those high standards for getting back to defend.
