Conor Coady names player who is a big part of the Everton dressing room and his best mate

Everton acquired Conor Coady on a season long loan deal in the summer in a bid to fortify the leaky defence and seek upgrades on the central defence that had conceded 66 goals last season.

Coady’s arrival was largely seen as a positive move as he added experience and solidity to the backline. Coady’s leadership qualities at the back haven’t gone unnoticed either. The 30 year old has been an integral part of Everton’s backline and has featured in 21 out of 23 Premier League games, starting all 21 of them and clocking 90 minutes in 20 of them.

Coady was a cornerstone in Frank Lampard’s defence and he has continued to hold a similar position under Sean Dyche. Everton currently have six central defenders – Coady, James Tarkowski, Yerry Mina, Ben Godfrey, Mason Holgate and Michael Keane. Coady has consistently been the preferred choice and has built a solid partnership with Tarkowski.

Everton defender Conor Coady on his relationship with James Tarkowski

Tarkowski arrived on a free transfer in the summer and has instantly made an impact in the backline. The 30 year old is Everton’s best defender and continues to be a crucial presence in the defence under Dyche. Tarkowski has played every minute of the Premier League so far and helped the Toffees keep six clean sheets this season.

Unsurprisingly, Everton’s most preferred centre back pairing is Coady and Tarkowski. The duo has earned the nickname of ‘Everton dads’. While speaking to the club, Coady has highlighted his fruitful and loving relationship with Tarkowski on and off the pitch.

"I love him. He’s class… One of my best mates. I knew about Tarky before I came to the club — I’ve played against him loads of times before and I knew how much of a top player he is.I’ve had good battles against him in the past but now coming in and experiencing him every single day — the sort of character he is, the sort of friend he is, the sort of player he is… He’s huge for us.He’s a big part of the dressing room and I’ve grown close to him over the months we’ve been here. I think he’s brilliant in terms of what he brings and how he holds himself. (via club’s official website)"

Coady’s loan deal will expire at the end of the season, although, Everton have the option to buy clause at the end of the season. The Toffees could buy Coady permanently for just £4.5 million at the end of the season, a very modest fee for what the Englishman offers on the pitch.

Should Conor Coady be signed on a permanent basis in the summer?