Can Klaassen and Vlasic provide Everton midfield creativity?
Everton need to improve the midfield creativity and goal scoring threat in the team, so could last year’s signings Davy Klaassen and Nikola Vlasic be the answer next season?
Despite the plethora of constant rumours and stories of this or that player coming to Goodison Park, Everton have still not signed anyone new.
One important area of the team that is badly in need of improvement is the team’s midfield creativity and goal threat.
Given that most of the stories about new players are focussed on central defence and forwards, it’s possible manager Marco Silva might not have the time or resources to strengthen midfield in this transfer window.
So could two players who had frustrating and underachieving campaigns last time be the answer here?
Both Davy Klaassen and Nikola Vlasic struggled to make any consistent impact on Everton’s 2017-18 season.
Klaassen was the bigger disappointment having been a high-profile summer signing when he joined from Ajax in summer 2017.
The midfielder had captained Ajax to the Europa League final and second place in the Eriedivisie and was well-regarded in his native Holland. There was certainly hope he could make a significant impact on the Premier League.
However Klaassen was one of those high-profile signings who weren’t able to deliver what was expected of them as Everton made a horrendous start to the season.
Klaassen was perhaps a victim of the confused and constantly changing line-ups and formations as Everton manager Ronald Koeman tried to turn things around.
When Koeman was sacked and eventually Sam Allardyce took over, Klaassen found his opportunities in the team even more restricted. In the end he only made seven Premier League appearances, the majority as a substitute.
Vlasic was a young player Everton came up against in their early Europa League qualifying campaign. After several impressive performances against the Blues, Koeman signed him for around £10 million.
It always seemed a slightly bizarre decision, especially as Everton seemed to have plenty of options in the advanced midfield/forward ‘no 10’ position.
Like Klaassen, Vlasic had a tough time making any consistent impact for the Blues. He made only a few appearances and failed to score a goal for Everton in the Premier League.
Both these players, (assuming they are still at Goodison next season), have plenty to prove. Especially if the Toffees fail to add any further talent in midfield.
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Of the two I think Vlasic is the better bet. The 20-year-old Croatian did provide evidence last season that he could make a solid contribution to the Blues cause.
This is especially important given that, as we reported today, another Premier League club is interested in taking Vlasic on loan next season.
However is it enough for the player to nail down a regular starting place next season and deliver the additional creativity and goals the Blues desperately need from midfield?
In other news the Mirror are claiming today Everton are trying to secure the signature of Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha through a swap deal involving former Palace player Yannick Bolasie going back the other way.
Next: Are Newcastle after Vlasic?
This seems unlikely to happen. If Palace are going to sell Zaha they are probably going to want a big fee not a former player who has struggled to find his previous form since returning from a serious double leg break.