After this past weekend’s Premier League action there were some significant results in the relegation battle.
Everton of course beat Huddersfield 2-0 and left them in serious danger of the drop while Southampton produced a much-needed performance to defeat their south coast rivals Bournemouth and give themselves a chance of escape.
One player who shone in particular in that game was Southampton’s Dusan Tadic. He was in excellent form creating chances and scoring both Saints goals.
According to the Liverpool Echo recently Everton are one of several clubs keeping an eye on the Serbian playmaker.
I would argue though that Tadic is not the kind of player the Blues need. Once again we’re talking about a player who is similar to others Everton have either signed or are being constantly linked with.
For example Tadic is a similar type to Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaquiri. These players are talented and capable of match-winning performances but they are also frustrating inconsistent and often peripheral figures in too many games.
Everton already have £45 million signing Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wayne Rooney who are supposed to fulfil the playmaker/number 10 role. And in the match against Huddersfield Nicola Vlasic made a return to the team and played well.
Let’s not forget too that Everton have also got Davy Klaassen still on the books as well.
What the Blues need is pace and penetration up front. Everton need players who are going to get behind opposition defences and create chances for striker Cenk Tosun and whoever else might be brought in to find the back of the net.
One player who could provide that pace and added creativity is Ademola Lookman. He’s currently on loan at RB Leipzig and by all accounts is doing well, as we have recently underlined.
The youngster cost Everton a small fortune and it would make no sense to see him leave when his qualities are what the Blues are crying out for.
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And if Tosun can continue his current level of performances he could be a key to the team’s success next season. The Echo have also done an analysis of his performances this term and they make for very interesting reading.
Tosun has a very high shot accuracy rate of 47% and has scored five goals from eight shots on target. All this is a pretty good return from the Turkish international. The Echo points out that it’s a better shooting accuracy rate than Mohamed Salah or Harry Kane.
It must be pointed out however that Salah and Kane have maintained these terrific strike rates all season long and against all opposition. And they are playing in teams that are creating far more chances per game than Everton.
Tosun’s challenge having settled into life in England will be to reproduce this kind of excellent conversation rate against better opposition over the course of a full Premier League season.
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He has the strength, movement and finishing ability with both feet and his head to be a very effective goalscorer. But crucially he needs far better service and that’s the challenge for Everton next season.