Why Deulofeu Cannot Stay at Everton Any Longer
Upon watching Shevchenko, Ronaldinho and Kaka play for the star studded AC Milan back in 2009 I did not foresee a day when they would be accepting loanees from Everton Football Club, a homage to the rise in popularity of English football. Just as the aforementioned players were the standouts of their peers, Gerard Deulofeu was destined for great things too, and is currently enjoying a successful loan spell with the Italian Giants. However, with the ever growing demands expected for those who play in the coliseum that is the Premier League, will Deulofeu be able to earn his way back into Ronald Koeman’s first team?
Top of his class, the graduate of La Masia, assumed to be the next step forward for Barcelona. His brilliance was transparent, there wasn’t a doubt in anyone’s mind that this wonder kid would soon play in a top European league. When Roberto Martinez signed him on a permanent deal in 2015 with an option for Barcelona to buy him back, Everton fans were joyous all across the land, after watching the wizard perform his magic in the previous season.
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However now that the buy-back clause is dissolving, it looks like Gerard will be starring elsewhere after only netting 8 goals in 75 appearances, highlighting his main weakness; not that he doesn’t have the killer touch, but that he struggles to replicate it week in week out.
If we look at Koeman’s time at Southampton, we see a distinct lack of through and through wingers. Simillar to the current situation at Everton, he opted for a hard working, domineering and solid midfield versus a set up using mercurial wide attacking players. Even when playing a 4-3-3 Koeman would choose well rounded players to sit high, play central and attack the final third such as Tadic or Lookman, as opposed to typical wingers who would run it to the line then cross as Deulofeu is known for.
Koeman tried his hand at playing the young Catalan centrally during preseason in the Dresden Cup, though a clinical finish and the stamina to keep it up for a full 90 minutes were missing and he hasn’t had many opportunities to play for Everton since. In hindsight we can see that unless Deulofeu could develop more stamina and recreate the sparks of pure brilliance we all know he is capable of, he was always unlikely to fit in to a Ronald Koeman squad.
Unless he can set Serie A aflame and prove to Evertonians that he can handle the physicality of English football, then it is with heavy hearts we must bid our little magician farewell, and all of the luck in the world. Since the buyback clause peaked at €12m then I suspect we will sell him to an eager AC Milan for a price around £17.5m (equivalent of €20m).
Up the Ev.