Prince Rupert's Tower
Fansided

More players Everton should consider?

By Matt Townsend

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 30: Gerard Deulofeu of Watford challenges Ben Davies of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Watford at Wembley Stadium on April 30, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 30: Gerard Deulofeu of Watford challenges Ben Davies of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Watford at Wembley Stadium on April 30, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

With just one more game to play in this current Premier League season, we turn our attention again to some further players Everton might want to consider as they look to strengthen in the off-season.

Returning to the position of left-back there is another player Everton might want to look at and who could well be available is Tottenham’s Ben Davies.

Davies has enjoyed a very solid, consistent season for Spurs but there have been constant rumours that the North London club would consider a swap deal with Manchester United involving United’s Luke Shaw and Danny Rose, Davies rival left-back.

If Shaw arrives at Tottenham, Davies might again be relegated to a reserve role. Spurs might also want to reduce their wage bill with the move to the new White Hart Lane imminent and so Davies could be one they would let go.

The Welsh international would also want to be guaranteed first-team football having established himself so well this campaign and with his international selection to consider too.

That might be an issue at Goodison Park as Leighton Baines is still Everton’s undisputed number one left-back. But as we’ve said before, given his age and injury problems, he can’t go on forever there.

One possible solution could be to move Baines into midfield rather like Gareth Barry did. It would prolong Baines’ career and allow him to continue to be a creative influence on the team’s play without the same level of defensive responsibility.

And it would save Everton from spending a small fortune on bringing in a player like Jack Wilshire with all the uncertainties that come with him.

It seems clear that Everton don’t have an obvious replacement at the moment for Baines. Cuco Martina has played left-back often this season in his absence and has been found wanting.

And Everton manager Sam Allardyce has told youth team product Luke Garbutt he has no future at the Blues. So Davies looks a good bet if he becomes available.

More from Prince Rupert's Tower

Moving into midfield and there are two young English players who Everton should take a look at in James Ward-Prowse of Southampton and Watford’s Will Hughes.

Ward-Prowse in particular has the qualities the Blues need in the middle. Again he is the kind of creative ball-playing midfielder Everton lack and has contributed three goals and three assists this season.

Those are not brilliant stats its true but he has been playing a very poor Saints team, one that has struggled all season in attacking terms.

The Southampton player ranks highly in his ability to keep hold of the ball, a major flaw in Everton’s play and in his crossing and set-piece delivery.

Another option might be Will Hughes of Watford. Hughes scores well in most attacking respects and he is also strong defensively, an added bonus.

However it’s very unlikely the Hornets would let Hughes go and not without asking for a big fee.

Next: Does Klaassen have a future at Blues?

Both these two players are superior in these respects to the other options in the Blues’ midfield, Tom Davies, Nicola Vlasic and Davy Klaassen. Although in the cases of Davies and Vlasic they are very young and should improve.

Home/Everton FC News