Everton linked again with Brazil youngster

In a quiet few days given the international break, Everton are rumoured to be looking again at making a move for young Brazilian starlet Reinier Jesus.

This story did the rounds in the summer as Everton were being linked with a myriad of talented young forwards. Given his age though no move could be made before January when he turns 18, and so the Blues looked elsewhere, which lead eventually to the signing of Moise Kean.

But now, with the club hierarchy having apparently dug their heels in over the position of manager Marco Silva, it seems this news that the Toffees are renewing interest in him, is being leaked to take Evertonian’s attention away from that situation.

It comes on the back of several other conveniently timed announcements about the new stadium and even the appointment of former Blues keeper Tim Howard as a club ambassador in the US.

Call me cynical, but I suspect all this stuff is a bit of PR designed to appease Toffees supporters, as the West Ham game looms this coming weekend when the Premier League returns.

The Brazilian is certainly a very talented and highly-rated player, but then aren’t they all!? It would represent a bit of coup if the Toffees got him ahead of other top European clubs, especially given where the team languish in the Premier League at present!

Personally though, I have my doubts that Everton will make a concrete move for this young player after all. And anyway frankly given how shot-shy the current set of forwards are, surely the Blues need someone who can come in and deliver straight away, not maybe in a year or two?

With Kean still adjusting to life in England and having so far failed to open his account, I’m not sure bringing another teenager in would necessarily improve things.

What Everton need is goals now to try to turn this wretched season around before it’s too late! A player like Moussa Dembele, whom the Toffees have also been linked with, might be more likely to be the answer, at least in the short term.

This situation brings up a wider point that I think needs to be addressed. What role does Marcel Brands recruitment policy play in the Blues current problems?

I was really pleased when the Toffees brought in the Dutchman from PSV last summer. He came with a very good reputation for recruiting bright young talent, especially form South America, and helping mould competitive teams on a limited budget.

Certainly he has helped to change the thinking and football culture at Goodison Park. His approach of signing the best young talent he can with a view to making a profit if or when they move on, would seem to be a reasonably sound one.

It’s also a strategy that suits Everton’s position quite well. Let’s be honest the Blues are still in the end, a selling club, and so ensuring that they get the best possible return for a player they have developed, is a good one.

However there might be misgivings beginning to creep in amongst some fans about whether this approach is working effectively, as the current team struggles so badly for form.

It’s true Everton have acquired some talented young players, especially the likes of Kean, Richarlison and even Alex Iwobi.

But what the Blues need at the moment are players to come in that can contribute immediately as well as just ones for the future. After all it’s not much good having lots of promising youngsters if your playing Championship football is it!

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Too many of the more experienced players are not producing the goods at the moment, which is putting pressure on these youngsters to deliver more than they are perhaps ready to.

Most of the attention for Everton’s problems has inevitably focussed on the manager’s failings. Many fans, perhaps most now, suspect a good part of the issue is the poor tactics and approach of Silva.

But there is maybe also a creeping suspicion that the club might have brought a player in Kean, who despite his potential, is not ready to deliver for the team yet?

Lets sincerely hope not and let’s also hope that if the Toffees do sign Jesus in January, he can be our saviour in the here and now!