Prince Rupert's Tower
Fansided

Everton: 5 possible replacements for Leighton Baines

By Parth Jhaveri

Everton's English defender Leighton Baines looks on during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Bournemouth at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on July 26, 2020. (Photo by Tim Goode / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by TIM GOODE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Everton's English defender Leighton Baines looks on during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Bournemouth at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on July 26, 2020. (Photo by Tim Goode / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by TIM GOODE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Everton
Manchester City’s Spanish defender Angelino plays the ball during the UEFA Champions League football Group C match between Manchester City and Shakhtar Donetsk at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England on November 26, 2019. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) /

Angelino from Manchester City and two Everton in-house options in Fabian Delph and Lewis Gibson.

3. Angelino

The Manchester City left back spent the half season on loan at RB Leipzig and the Germans have no intention to sign him permanently. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City has always boasted A-grade squad with excellent squad depth in every position. Especially in left back, they house Benjamin Mendy, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Angelino.

The 23 year old was signed from PSV last summer to provide depth in the left back position as Benjamin Mendy was recovering from a long term injury. Now that the Frenchman is fit and firing, the Citizens may think of offloading Angelino. Zinchenko is preferred over the Spaniard as a backup left back at Etihad, leaving Angelino without much clarity.

The 23 year old is comfortable on the ball and does a good job while going forward, a pre-requisite in modern day full backs. He can truly challenge Lucas Digne as well and both these men can push each other to greater limits.

Trending. Everton: 5 players Everton can target from relegated sides. light

4. Fabian Delph

Everton may not have to spend a single penny for finding a replacement for Leighton Baines. Fabian Delph has proven his mantle as a left back at Manchester City. He can deputize at the left back role and do a decent job. If Marcel Brands and Ancelotti are prioritizing other positions than Delph may be the in house replacement Everton can have for at least one season.

However, Fabian Delph remaining fit is a big question mark. If he manages to avoid any niggles or major injury issues, he is dependable, offering a good option at left-back as Leighton Baines replacement.

More from Prince Rupert's Tower

5. Lewis Gibson

The U-23 defender was a regular in the reserves team and can operate as a centre back as well as the left back. Promoting Lewis Gibson could be most reasonable option. This way the Toffees could keep Delph in midfield and find a solution to the left back conundrum. Nkounkou has just been signed and will feature in the U-23 squad, giving an opportunity to Gibson to show his potential in the first team.

It is true that the 19 year old has no prior experience of first team football but Jarrad Branthwaite wasn’t experienced either. He was put in a demanding situation and he rose like a lion so there’s no reason to not believe that Gibson can’t do that.

Next. Everton may miss out on Alfredo Morelos as surprise team emerge as frontrunners. dark

Leighton Baines and his legacy is irreplaceable but which player can at best do the job required in the squad?

Home/Everton FC News