Alex Iwobi likely to be offered a new contract by Everton
As Everton face another massive game this weekend against Brentford, one of their longest-standing players is set to be offered a new deal.
That player is Alex Iwobi and there are rumours about a fresh contract for the former Arsenal man who first signed for the Blues’ in summer 2019.
Iwobi’s Everton career has been a very disappointing series of mainly hugely underwhelming performances under a series of different managers. He has never found a level of real consistency apart from odd spells here and there.
The Nigerian international was a very late signing that summer after the Toffees’ had been linked with a move for Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha.
Instead of getting him, they signed Iwobi for a massive fee of around £35 million. At the time it smacked a bit of desperation and spoke of a lack of a coherent transfer strategy, as with so many signings at this time.
Iwobi’s true ability and even his best position in the team were a constant issue from the start of his time on Merseyside.
He had played in midfield and in a more advanced position for Arsenal without ever really nailing down a regular place. In addition, his goal tally wasn’t high either so there were questions about what tangible things he could bring to the team.
His first maanger was Marco Silva but he was gone six months later to be ultimately replaced by Carlo Ancelotti.
When he did get game-time it was usually as a wide midfielder, often on the left flank and his performances were very average at best.
Ancelotti then left for Real Madrid and Rafa Benitez succeeded the Italian and bought in Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend to play in the wide attacking positions. Again Iwobi had limited chances.
Following Benitez’s sacking, Frank Lampard became the latest new manager to try and turn things around at Everton. He was Iwobi’s fourth manager in two and a half years.
Lampard seemed to be the first Blues’ boss to get a decent tune out of the player as he moved him to a central midfield position where for a while he was putting in very solid performances.
Since Lampard’s departure and Sean Dyche’s arrival, Iwobi’s form has dipped again and he hasn’t had the same impact after being moved back to a wide midfield role in the ex-Burnley manager’s 4-5-1 formation.
Recently, rumours surfaced that Iwobi was perhaps ready to move on to pastures new but any such potential move was blocked by the club.
Does the former Arsenal man actually deserve a new contract? I’m not sure that the Toffees’ should be giving him one because I don’t think he offers enough end product with any consistency. Furthermore, I don’t know where his best position is, still, and
Time and time again, Everton have given underachieving players big contracts and money and received very little in return far too often. It seems to me that’s what Everton are doing once more.