Prince Rupert’s Tower recently covered stories linking Jose Callejon, Adam Marusic and Cengiz Under to Goodison Park. Now we try to decode that which of these players is best suited for Everton and Carlo Ancelotti’s system.
1. Jose Callejon
The Napoli winger is out of contract at the end of the season and has indicated he is open to playing under Carlo Ancelotti at Everton. Jose Callejon was one of the first names on the Napoli team sheet under the Italian manager; In fact, Callejon was one of the most productive players for the Naples club when Carlo Ancelotti was the manager. Under him, the 33 year old scored 5 goals and assisted 22 more in 65 games, proving how easily the player fits in the manager’s system.
Out of the three players mentioned, the Callejon project presents least monetary risks as the player will simply arrive on a free transfer. The only concern for Everton will be the age of the right winger. At 33, Jose Callejon doesn’t give assurances for a long term future. One thing is clear that he is nearly past his prime but still has enough gas in the tank to go on for a couple of more seasons.
Verdict:
The Toffees have very little to lose in the Callejon transfer. He practically arrives for free and at least offers immediate respite from the ongoing problems at the wings. The Spaniard also has the experience of playing under Ancelotti, which will only help him settle quickly at Goodison Park. Everton must do everything in their power to sign Callejon before any other team makes a move.
Adam Marusic is another name that has been linked recently with a move to Goodison Park.
2. Adam Marusic
The SS Lazio wide attacking midfielder has endured a tough season in Rome and wants a way out. The Montenegro international can play in a number of positions, giving lot of versatility to Carlo Ancelotti. The 27 year old uses his speed to make decent runs up and down the right flank, contributing in attack as well as covering back for the defence. Marusic is a hard worker on the right flank and his movement without the ball is well appreciated, making him a team player: a welcome trait.
He can play as a right winger, a right sided wide midfielder and also deputize as a right back, in short, play anywhere on the right flank, solving majority problems for Everton. However, Adam Marusic isn’t the best finishers around and needs to work on his decisions in the final third. That is something he can polish at Goodison Park. There are health concerns, as the Montenegrin has had recurring injuries in the past but at the age of 27, Maursic is entering the prime stage of his career and will be more motivated than ever to succeed at the club level.
Verdict:
Adam Marusic may be a risky operation considering he hasn’t completely proved his worth but Everton have taken bigger risks in the past. Despite some competition from PSG, the Toffees can get their man for €15 million. Acquiring Callejon for free and signing Marusic for €15 million gives the Merseysiders much needed depth and two players with different styles at their disposal.
AS Roma winger Cengiz Under is also a hyped name when it comes to transfers to Everton.
3. Cengiz Under
The Toffees have also made contact with the Serie A side to gain some information about Under. Roma are willing to part ways with the Turk but only if they are offered a sum of €30 million. The speedster is one of the brightest wingers in the scene but doesn’t produce the same numbers to support his case. At 22, he has just started to realize his potential and still has a lot of work to do before he can claim the title to be one of the best wingers in Europe.
He offers a different set of qualities than the other two. Under is one of the fastest players at Roma and his characteristic move of cutting inside right at the end makes him more lethal. Under’s left foot is capable of launching rockets that can tear past any net. However, he doesn’t track back his opponents and does very little defensive work. His lack of commitment in defence can hamper Carlo Ancelotti’s tactics. The Italian deploys a 4-4-2 formation where the two wide midfielders are expected to carry out some defensive duties as full backs Djibril Sidibe and Lucas Digne bomb forward. Having Under in the team will increase the offensive threat of the team but will also make them slightly more vulnerable in defence.
Verdict:
Cengiz Under would tick the box of a young and hungry player with the mentality to prove himself to the world but he might not be the best player suited for Carlo Ancelotti’s team. The other competitors like Marusic excel ahead of him because of their assurance in defence. When a more complete player like Adam Marusic is available for half the price, Everton must focus on signing him rather than Under.