Transfer window priorities for Everton

Moving on to central midfield and again there have been continuing rumours and stories of new players to be added to the squad in this area of the team.

On paper at least Everton should have enough cover here. They have Allan, Doucoure, Tom Davies, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Andre Gomes and possibly soon the returning Jean-Philippe Gbamin.

But as this past year has shown once more, there are still lingering doubts about whether some of those players are good enough for a team with aspirations of European football and competing against the best in the Premier League.

Again, recently several of those players have actually stepped up and produced some solid performances, especially and perhaps most surprisingly, Sigurdsson. But can Evertonians be sure that they won’t relapse to past poor and indifferent performances?

The most consistent stories about new midfielders have centered on two players Ancelotti has previously coached – Isco and Sami Khedira.

The Isco deal looks unlikely, but Khedira seems intent on a January move to England, Juventus want him off their books and Everton are one of two clubs strongly linked with signing him. Ancelotti has even hinted he might be interested.

While Khedira certainly isn’t a long-term solution, if he came on a free transfer and wasn’t demanding too much in wages he could offer some additional quality, experience and competition in the engine room.