Everton make bid for Turkish winger
As Everton prepare for tonight’s Carabao Cup clash at Goodison Park against Salford City, there are more rumours about a player the Blues have supposedly been interested in all summer.
That player is the Roma forward Cengiz Under. Everton have been repeatedly linked with a move for the Turkish player and today’s reports claim the Toffees have made what they call a ‘good offer’ for the player.
This is the usual paper talk and a rumour-mill that keeps going round and round I’m sure, but Under is a footballer that would fit what the Blues perhaps ideally still need: another wide player with pace and goal scoring ability.
I’ve argued that I do think Everton need a bit more pace and genuine width in attack, as there is only really one existing winger in the squad who has featured regularly; Theo Walcott.
There are other players who can operate wide such as Yanick Bolasie, Alex Iwobi or Bernard. But there are more stories circulating that some or all of these might be on their way out of the club as Carlo Ancelotti seeks to trim his bloated squad.
Under is a player that Roma seem to be prepared to sell, if they get a decent offer and today’s stories from Italy intimate the Blues have allegedly made a concrete offer for the player.
The 23-year-old is someone who fitted the profile of the type of player Ancelotti and Brands were supposedly keen on signing. He is that left-footed right-winger with the ability to cut inside as well as provide genuine width due to his speed.
However, Everton have since signed James Rodriguez and although he isn’t a real winger, he offers that left-footed option on the right as well as even more technical quality and flair.
Rodriguez though likes to drift and play more centrally and as mentioned, doesn’t offer real pace or the inclination to hug the line or take on and beat an opponent.
This may not be important if the Toffees continue to play in the way they did at Tottenham on Sunday and if they have enough support behind and alongside Rodriguez from right-back.
That team and formation worked superbly well and but for wayward finishing, the Blues might have won by three or four goals.
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But surely it is unlikely to expect that side to play as well every week. And the opposition will try to disrupt the team’s fluency and effectiveness perhaps by marking Rodriguez out of the game to nullify his creative influence, although on Sunday’s evidence that would seem a tall task!
Or what is more likely, one or other, especially perhaps James given his track record, could end up getting injured at some point and so Everton will probably need an alternative plan.
A player with the ability to provide outright wing play and a wide outlet, whether on the right or the left and with additional pace, would be exactly that.
Under can play on both wings and could represent a good alternative. A player like him can also give the Blues the option of reverting to a 4-4-2 as well, because if you are going to make that formation work you do ideally need genuine width.
In the end though I very much doubt this move will happen. There seem too many improbable factors such as the need to sell existing players first and other alternative transfer priorities such as centre-back cover. If indeed Everton are looking at more wide attacking options, I think it will only be a loan signing.