Brands hints at Everton January activity

Everton Director of Football Marcel Brands has hinted that the club might well be active in looking for new recruits in the January transfer market.

This is good news for Everton supporters as despite the progress made by the team this season, it’s obvious there is still considerable work to be done.

The recent decline in form following the derby loss at Anfield, has highlighted those areas where Everton are still lacking in the quality needed to make them genuine top six, or even top four contenders.

In particular I feel the Blues need to prioritise further striking options and also to consider new faces in the right back position where Seamus Coleman has, at times, not looked quite as assured this season.

I think that Coleman’s injuries have reduced his effectiveness and confidence. This is a situation that is similar to the double leg-break suffered by another full-back, Bryan Oviedo, which so unfortunately left him a shadow of the player who had looked so good in that 2013-14 season.

In addition it is important to look at securing on a permanent deal the on-loan Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes who has been such a revelation for the Blues since he made his debut. Although that is probably going to be a matter that will be sorted out in the summer.

Brands has also indicated that the Toffees won’t be bringing anyone in before they have also offloaded a player so maintaining the current squad numbers.

All this means that Everton might have a busy January window ahead of them.

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In recent weeks the Blues have been linked with several new players. Especially midfielders, including the Watford star Abedoye Doucoure, who had a fine game at Goodison Park last weekend.

January though is a difficult time to get the right players in. And while I have every confidence in the scouting prowess of Brands and his team, I think it will prove challenging to bring in players during that window who can significantly improve the quality of the squad.

But let’s see perhaps he can surprise us and pull off another transfer coup to match signings like Lucas Digne and Gomes?