We continue our look at some of the lesser-known players who might be available to Everton and worth considering when whoever is in charge of the club’s transfers embarks on their recruitment this summer.
Let’s now turn our attention to an area where I feel Everton are particularly weak; midfield. The Blues have too many similar players in the middle of the park and there is an urgent need for more flair and goal-scoring threat.
Everton have created very few chances in the majority of their Premier League matches and although most of the attention in that regard has been on the forwards, it’s also critical to have attacking support from midfield.
It’s why Everton have been linked with offering Jack Wilshere a huge signing-on bonus to persuade him to leave Arsenal, despite his manifest injury problems and perceived failure to fulfil his potential.
Wilshere would certainly be a controversial signing. There are his constant injuries, which see him miss so much of almost every season but there’s also the fact he doesn’t seem to have quite matured either on or off the pitch.
But perhaps part of the problem is that he has spent too much time in the comfort zone of an under-achieving Arsenal team and needs the challenge of a move to another club.
Indeed it could be a similar story to his former team mates Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain, who has flourished since his move to Liverpool and of course, although to a lesser extent, Theo Walcott’s experience at Everton.
And Wilshere did have a pretty good season last term when he was on loan at Bournemouth, playing under a progressive and positive young manager in Eddie Howe, who I think should be considered as a candidate for the Blues job.
Another player the Blues have been linked to this season is the Sevilla midfielder Steven N’zonzi. He has strength and creativity and offers a goal threat too.
Manager Sam Allardyce knows him well but this transfer might be very much dependent on whether Allardyce survives and remains in charge come the end of the season.
At any rate whether these moves happen or not there may be other potential targets for the Blues to consider.
A player who is perhaps not an obvious choice but who has enjoyed a fine campaign this season is Pascal Groβ of Brighton. In a very average and very defensive team he has scored 6 times and made an impressive 8 assists.
Groβ scores highly in areas like making key passes, taking set pieces and crossing. Although on the downside he does sometimes give the ball away.
But crucially he’s a player who makes things happen and he’s comfortable playing in a number of different attacking positions.
Another midfield player who has impressed for one of the promoted clubs is Matt Ritchie of Newcastle United. Ritchie has been one of Newcastle’s best players this campaign for a side who have certainly had their struggles.
Again he has been productive for the Magpies, scoring 3 goals and creating 5 assists from a variety of midfield positions. In fact Ritchie has been a more productive in an attacking sense than Jonjo Shelvey, often regarded as their key player.
Like Groβ, Ritchie can operate in several different midfield positions and so offers tactical flexibility too. However statistically he is best playing on the right hand side where he can cut inside onto his favoured left foot.
Ritchie offers a wide range of good attacking qualities, however it’s likely it would prove difficult to prise him away from St James Park as Newcastle are sure to want to keep him for next season.
Looking abroad and linked to Newcastle one other player who should be on the Blues radar is the Marseille midfielder Florian Thauvin.
He has actually played briefly in England before with the Magpies before returning to France. This season has been an excellent one for the 25-year-old.
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He has netted 19 times and made 10 assists as well, very impressive stats albeit in a weaker league than England.
He has also perhaps been overshadowed by his more flamboyant and controversial team-mate Dimitri Payet. Nevertheless he has been a key figure as Marseille challenge for a Champions League place.
Herein of course lies the problem as Everton won’t be able to offer him European football of any description next season.
But the Blues riches and the pull of the Premier League might prove decisive regardless of this.
Similarly like Ritchie he is very strong in all offensive respects and as Director of Football Steve Walsh knows well, France can prove a very good place to find top quality talent at bargain prices.
And while his first term in English football might not have proved a great success he could do better next time around, after all its happened before – Mohamad Salah anyone?
In truth none of these players necessarily offers an instant quick fix or panacea for Everton’s attacking and goal-scoring problems.
Next: Preview of Blues against Newcastle
But they might represent better value for money than some of the over-priced and under achieving footballers the Blues seem to have a habit of signing.