Juventus are releasing several of their veteran players as new manager Andrea Pirlo looks to re-shape his squad. Could any of them be a good fit for Everton?
Obviously Everton are rightly primarily focusing on sorting out the midfield and finding good quality young players.
These are individuals will develop at the club and can then potentially be sold on for a considerable profit in the future.
However, I have argued many times before, that the Toffees also do need more experience and leadership in critical areas of the team, in particular in central defence and up front.
I’ve mentioned the possibility of Everton considering signing a veteran central defender like Nicolas Otamendi to provide that nous at the back. Are there any forwards who might provide a similar level of experience?
Well one of the players who might fit the bill, is the Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain. The Argentinian international according to reports today, is now surplus to requirements at the Turin club as Pirlo looks to re-shape his squad.
Bringing in a forward isn’t the main priority for the Blues in this transfer window, but if a quality, veteran striker is available for a very reasonable fee, then Everton should consider them.
One player I previously mentioned who could fill this role, was the Chelsea centre-forward Olivier Giroud. I thought he would be an ideal player to have at Goodison Park and bring some needed qualities to the Blues attack.
Higuian is also a very experienced and good quality forward who has played top-level club football in South America and Europe and for his national team many times.
He has the kinds of skills and abilities that the Toffees could really do with. The 32-year-old is an excellent passer of the ball, who creates a lot of chances, chips in with goals and would be ideal to play off the existing strikers or as one of two.
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He is also a hard-working player who can hold the ball up and likes to get stuck in, which would help the team press if Ancelotti ever wanted to play a more high-tempo, pressing game next season.
At 32 of course, he comes with risks. He might only have a year or two left at the top level of the game and certainly wouldn’t be a player who could start every match in the Premier League.
Another issue would be wages. I don’t know how much Higuain is on at Juventus, but given his pedigree, it’s not likely to be less than £100,000 a week, which would probably scupper any deal.
I also don’t know if he’d come to Goodison Park, maybe the Ancelotti factor might help, but if he was available for around £8-10 million or so, or perhaps on a loan deal, I think he would represent a player worth considering, especially as Juventus are keen to get him off their books.
The quality, footballing nous and experience he brings, would potentially dovetail well with Everton’s young forwards and help them in their development.