Everton winger wants out in January

After apparently failing to get a move in the transfer window just gone, Everton winger Bernard wants to leave Goodison Park in January.

According to online media, Bernard’s agents claim that the Brazilian wanted a move away from Everton this summer, but was denied an exit by the club.

However, the Toffees have disputed that story and claim there weren’t any concrete bids for him lodged, despite rumours that Roma were keen to take him to Italy on deadline day.

It’s perhaps not surprising that Bernard wants to leave, he certainly isn’t first choice under Carlo Ancelotti and hasn’t exactly flourished since his move to Everton two years ago.

He’s one of a number of players like Theo Walcott, who got a deadline day move to Southampton and Gylfi Sigurdsson, who didn’t seem to have much of a future, especially once Ancelotti arrived at Goodison Park and started to look hard at the squad he inherited.

That squad was woeful at times last season, especially in the run-in as the Blues campaign petered out miserably. Bernard hadn’t been one of the players considered most at fault but he hadn’t covered himself in glory either.

Despite that and in conjunction with several others, it does seems though that Ancelotti still has plans for him this season and wants to keep him around at least for a few months more.

Bernard has been trying to get into the new side that Ancelotti is creating at Everton and when he’s had his chance in the Carabao Cup this season, he’s generally done well.

But he has been pushed further into the first-team background especially now that Richarlison has moved to a more left-sided position in Ancelotti’s 4-3-3 type formation.

The former Shaktar Donetsk player had generally played in that position under Ancelotti’s predecessor Marco Silva.

But that didn’t seem to be part of structured strategy, rather it was a response to short-term pressure after poor results and didn’t last long.

When the Italian took over, he was once again he was back in the fringes of the squad with his future looking uncertain.

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This season, his fellow countryman Richarlison, has thrived in that new role, although so far, his goal return has declined as he’s not getting into quite as many positions to score goals as he was last season.

I actually think Bernard would better suit playing a deeper, more central role in the midfield three, giving him the chance to get hold of the ball and provide some creativity and flair.

Obviously, though after this transfer window just gone, the team’s first choice play-maker now is another South American player; James Rodriguez.

Given his injury history, Rodriguez might not be able to play every game this season, although so far he is looking pretty robust! Ancelotti might be thinking he will need Bernard’s trickery and creative ability at some point in this current campaign.

Long-term though it’s hard to see him wanting to stay if he doesn’t get any Premier League playing time and so perhaps a move to another club in January will be inevitable.