Everton fell to a shambolic 5-1 defeat at the hands of Atalanta in the Europa League last night. A defeat – which perfectly summed up their performance this season.
Following a spending spree in the summer transfer window, the Toffees have completely failed to live up to their expectations this season. After the sacking of Ronald Koeman, the Merseyside giants are in for a change of fortune.
Defensive mishaps has been one of the primary reasons behind their demise. In fact, current coach David Unsworth recently stated in an interview, that he’s ‘disappointed‘ with Everton’s shambolic defending this season.
Therefore, in order to address their defensive issues, here are three players the Toffees should sign in the January transfer window.
Benjamin Hubner – TSG Hoffenheim
Arguably the best defender for the highly impressive Hoffenheim side, driven by their passionate young manager in Julian Nagelsmann, Benno Hubner has been one of the defensive mainstays in the Bundesliga, since Ingolstadt’s promotion two years ago.
Speedy, agile and great on the ball, Hubner is by far one of the most interesting defenders in the Bundesliga. Not only he can be solid in the backline but his ability to keep control of the ball is what makes him a unique figure in the backline.
His cunning and aggressive nature of play can be a perfect match for Everton.
Mouctar Diakhaby – Olympique Lyon
Mouctar Diakhaby has been the rising star in the French Ligue 1 this season. The defensive gem from Olympique Lyon has raised quite a few eyebrows, thanks to his solid defensive displays.
Diakhaby is advertised to be an excellent ball-playing centre-back as well, which only bodes well for David Unsworth. In addition, the 20-year-old also excels in his defensive duties, as he averages the second most defensive actions at Lyon so far this season.
Standing at a massive 6 feet 3 inches, Diakhaby is a defensive giant, who can not only be intimidating to the opposing strikers but can also aid his team in set pieces. And therefore, be a perfect fit for the Merseyside club.
Callum Chambers – Arsenal FC
After a successful loan stint at Middlesbrough last season, the hopes on defender Callum Chambers were high prior to the start of this season. However, things haven’t really panned in the way he would have liked. The presence of Per Mertesacker and the impressive defensive duo of Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi has drastically minimized the first team opportunities for the former Southampton defender.
His defensive versatility could be an ideal solution for Everton as they constantly struggle to find a proper defensive formation.
Chambers will be keen to gather some first-team under his belt, especially with the World Cup just around the corner and therefore, be open to another loan deal or even a permanent move to Everton in January.
