Five Gareth Barry replacements Everton should consider
Ian MacNicol/AFP/Getty Images
Credit: Ian MacNicol/AFP/Getty Images
Though not as eye-catching as Ross Barkley, or as dynamic as Seamus Coleman, there is certainly a case to be made for having Gareth Barry as Everton’s most consistent performer last season. With the midfielder a free agent now having seen out his contract at Manchester City however, a number of clubs in addition to the Toffees, both in England and abroad, are thought to be keen on securing his signature. Should Barry opt to move on from Goodison Park then the Blues will need to reinforce their midfield, but where should they begin to look? Below are five options for filling that Gareth Barry-shaped whole in the middle of the park.
What do you think of these potential transfer targets? Did we miss anyone who Everton should be targeting? Let us know in the comments.
1. Steven Defour
With Everton’s Belgian contingent set to dwindle to just Kevin Mirallas unless Romelu Lukaku can be secured on a permanent deal, Roberto Martínez could potentially look to the Red Devils’ World Cup squad for some inspiration in the transfer market. There he’ll find Steven Defour, Porto’s central midfielder and an intriguing candidate to take the place of Barry should the Englishman move on from Goodison in the summer.
Having spent three seasons in Portugal after moving from Standard Liege, Defour has failed to quite live up to the heady expectations that saw him linked with Manchester United a couple of seasons ago, but has continued to feature regularly for club and country, albeit often as a substitute. Tenacious, energetic and with a good range of passing, the Belgian might not offer the same defensive coverage afforded by Barry, but his fitness and drive could see him form an imposing partnership with James McCarthy.
Asking Price: £6m
2. Tom Cleverley
Bear with me on this one. Cleverley has been much maligned over the past couple of seasons on account of his performances for both Manchester United and England, and with Louis Van Gaal preparing for an overhaul of the recently deposed champions’ squad, the Englishman could well be deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford. Pricing would probably be an issue – United are unlikely to want to sell for less than £10m – but a move to Everton could end up suiting both parties perfectly.
Still only 24, Cleverley needs to be playing regularly in order progress, and he can take heart from previous examples of fringe players who have flourished upon moving from Old Trafford to Goodison. An accomplished passer (he averaged 89% completion last season), he wouldn’t struggle to adapt to Roberto Martínez’s style of play, and has the added bonus of having worked with the Toffees boss previously. Under Martínez, Cleverley excelled while on loan at Wigan Athletic, and if the Spaniard can help to rebuild the midfielder’s confidence then he could prove a more than adequate replacement for Barry.
Asking Price: £12m
3. Jack Rodwell
Another talented player in need of a change of scene, Jack Rodwell is also a familiar face. The former Evertonian has undeniably stagnated following his £12m switch to Manchester City in 2012, making just 15 starts for his new club in two years, and looks certain to move on during this transfer window. Should Everton consider taking him back, though? Yes – for the right price.
The criticism that will always be levelled at Rodwell, and rightly so, is that he seems incapable of staying fit, and, frustratingly, it seems increasingly likely that he may never hit the heights for which he seemed destined when he became the Toffees’ youngest ever European debutant in 2007. It’s easy to forget however, that in his final year at Goodison Rodwell was arguably Everton’s best player, at least until injuries cut his season short at the turn of the year. But for his fitness problems he could well have gone to the European Championship in 2012, and what’s more telling is that it wouldn’t have been a surprise. Athletic, skilled and composed on the ball, the 23-year-old has the raw attributes needed to become an excellent and versatile player – perhaps he just needs to come home.
Asking Price: £8m
4. Saúl Ñíguez
Roberto Martínez will once again make use of the loan system this summer, and following Gerard Deulofeu’s successful spell in England, the Toffees boss could look to Spain again to source young talent. If he does, then Atlético Madrid’s Saúl Ńíguez should be high on his list. Saúl, as he’s known, has just enjoyed a superb loan spell at Rayo Vallecano, where the 19-year-old quickly established himself as the team’s standout performer in the centre of midfield.
With the newly crowned La Liga champions not exactly short of midfield talent, the young Spaniard will surely find first team opportunities limited again this season, and so another loan seems the most likely course of action. A strong, skilful and defensive-minded player, who has also operated at centre back, Saúl would be a welcome addition to an Everton squad that will be competing on four fronts next year.
Asking Price: Loan
5. Darron Gibson
It’s easy to overlook the fact that Everton do, in fact, have a readymade replacement for Gareth Barry already at the club. Sidelined for the entirety of the last campaign through injury, Darron Gibson fits the mould of a defensively solid, deep-lying creative midfielder perfectly – when he makes it on to the pitch, that is. Under David Moyes the Irishman quickly became an integral part of the Toffees midfield following his move from Manchester United, offering a more expansive range of passing than had previously been present at the club. The oft-quoted stat that it took Gibson 28 league games before experiencing defeat at Everton speaks for itself.
Injuries remain a concern, but like Rodwell, there is the tantalising feeling that if Gibson can stay fit then he could become an extremely important player for Everton going forward. Roberto Martínez has insisted recently that Gibson has not been forgotten at the club; with a bit of luck he could thrive once again this season.
Asking Price: None