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3 players Everton can target from Championship sides who missed promotion

By Paul Conatzer

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Said Benrahma of Brentford and Andrew Ayew of Swansea City during the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Semi-final 2nd Leg match between Brentford and Swansea City at Griffin Park on July 29, 2020 in Brentford, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Said Benrahma of Brentford and Andrew Ayew of Swansea City during the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Semi-final 2nd Leg match between Brentford and Swansea City at Griffin Park on July 29, 2020 in Brentford, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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Everton might turn to the teams that fell at Championship playoff hurdle for possible transfers.

Just because Brentford, Cardiff and Swansea didn’t reach the Premier League this season, it doesn’t mean they lack quality players. Players like Said Benrahma, Andre Ayew sparkled for their respective sides but in the end, failed to make ‘the’ significant difference.

They all had to play well enough after playing 44 games in a gruelling Championship season and with the virus enforced break hurting fitness, reaching the playoffs is an accomplishment in itself.

Brentford have never played in the Premier League but did a spot in Top flight before World War II intervened. Cardiff was last in the Premier League in 2018-19 but were relegated after that season. Swansea has a better record becoming the first Welsh team to play in the Premier League in 2011. That run ended in 2018 with relegation back to Championship.

Here’s three players, (one from each,) that Everton might want to take a look at.

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Swansea: Andre Ayew

At 30, left-winger Andre Ayew isn’t at the end of his career, but he can hear it creeping up on him.

Ayew, who is the captain of the Ghana team, has played in the Premier League before with Swansea and West Ham and has performed fairly well.

According to Transfermarkt, Andre Ayew played 89 times in the top flight for both Swansea and West Ham. He scored 21 goals and had 12 assists. He also scored 15 goals in 86 international appearances.

He had a good season in the Championship as well with 15 goals and seven assists in 44 appearances, Andre Ayew also scored the goal that gave the Swans, a 1-0 win against Brentford in playoff semifinals. Brentford went on to win, 3-2 on aggregate.

Swansea City manager Don Cooper knows it might be difficult to keep Ayew.

He told the BBC:

"But I understand Andre is a better player than the Championship. That’s a matter of fact and I am sure he will have offers to do that.We need to have a good conversation over the next couple of days. We trust each other 100 per cent and in the end we will come to a resolution that’s right for everybody."

Ayew may leave for financial reasons as well.

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Brentford: Said Benrahma 

The 24-year-old had attracted interest from bigger clubs in prior seasons. But his performance this season really intensified it.

Although listed as a left-winger, much of Said Benrahma’s best creative work has occurred when he drifts into the middle, raising the question could he play as an attacking central midfielder?

It would be certainly worth a shot, especially for an Everton team that has lacked midfield creativity in far too many matches this season.

In 43 games Championship runouts for Brentford this season, Said Benrahma scored 17 goals and had 9 assists. The Algerian international also completed 78 percent of his passes and averted two key passes per game.

His range of offensive skills including good pace and great dribbling ability have put him on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs.

According to FourFourTwo, Arsenal, Leicester and Crystal Palace have all been linked. With Crystal Palace to turn to Said Benrahma, if Wilfred Zaha were to move on.

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Cardiff City: Will Vaulks  

The 26-year-old Welsh international was born on the Wirral and he might well be temped to move home. He started out at Tranmere Rovers, before moving on to Falkirk and then Cardiff.

Tenacity is something Everton have needed since Idrissa Gueye left and Vaulks might be able bring that to Everton

His best position is as a defensive midfielder where his is known for his strength in the air. He’s also shown, he’s able to make a good pass.

According to whoscored, Vaulks averaged nearly two tackles a game in a physical Championship. He completed 70 percent of his passes and chipped in with four goals.

Vaulks wouldn’t be very expensive and Everton do need a midfielder with a little bite. So the Welsh International, who missed his chance to play in Euro 2020 because of the Covid-19 virus, would welcome a chance to play at higher level to cement a place at the international level.

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Would it be a good value for Everton to sign a player still in the Championship, what do you think?

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