When I sat down to write this piece, I expected myself to talk about the implications of a possible Kyle Walker signing and the pros and cons that would come from such an operation.
However, as I took a step back to look over the recent news cycle regarding Everton and their fullbacks, I encountered a trend that could seem worrying for some or exciting for others.
Everyone reading this article knows the importance of this transfer window for Everton. With the Friedkin Group strongly at the helm, the Toffees are going to go through a massive roster overhaul. Thankfully, for the first time in years, Everton will have the financial flexibility to turn into a contender for a European spot.
Whether the club themselves believes in that vision is yet to be seen, and there have been some promising signs with Everton reportedly interested in Jack Grealish and Thierno Barry.
At the fullback position, it seems like Everton's aspirations aren't so high. Sure, Vladimir Coufal, and, more specifically, Kyle Walker, would have been amazing signings one or two years ago. But in the current context, they would be middle-of-the-road fullbacks in the Premier League or worse if they don't recapture their previous form.
I've been grappling with these links and what they mean. I'd be fine with Coufal or Walker joining the club, since they're still quality players that could make an impact, but part of me also believes that Everton could also sign slightly younger players that can contribute now and in the future.
If forced to choose, I'd be happier if the club signed Coufal than Walker because he'd be cheaper and a good depth option, while Walker would surely want to be a starter.
I'll be comparing Kyle Walker to a 28-year-old by the name of Anthony Caci, who has also been linked to Everton, albeit more subtly. They come from each player's fbref.com pages from the past 365 days. Before looking at the data, let me preface it by saying that Walker and Caci played in two very different contexts this year, which could skew some numbers.
Comparing Kyle Walker to Anthony Caci
Kyle Walker (Man City/AC Milan) | Anthony Caci (Mainz 05) |
|---|---|
1.55 Shot Creating Actions per 90 | 3.19 Shot-Creating Actions per 90 |
1.84 Tackles per 90 | 2.01 Tackles per 90 |
0.71 Interceptions per 90 | 0.91 Interceptions per 90 |
0 G/A | 8 G/A |
87.2 Pass Completion % | 71.8 Pass Completion % |
It doesn't take a statistician to realize that Anthony Caci fits like a glove into this Everton team and what they're looking for.
Caci was an offensive fullback for Mainz, often overlapping on the right side and creating chances from that position. He wasn't the best passer, but that's the result of his aggressive play style. Walker isn't the offensive threat he used to be and has become much more reserved, focusing on passing accuracy and control.
However, Everton are looking to revamp their fullback positions, and going for an aging Walker who is starting to decline in offensive output doesn't make too much sense.
Also, Caci is currently on wages that amount to less than €35,000 a week, according to Capology, while that same site has Kyle Walker currently making more than double. Is Walker, as of right now, more than two times the player that Caci is? I don't think so.
At first, I was open to the idea of signing Kyle Walker, and I still have no doubt that he has the ability to produce in the Premier League, but in all honesty, if he's the big signing that we're looking to make at fullback, I would be disappointed.
Not mad. Disappointed.
And the fact that the Walker links are much louder than those for Caci makes me believe that the club's transfer strategy for fullbacks needs to be revised. Why go after players like Ashley Young? He was a good signing under the context in which Everton operated, but now, those restraints are being lifted.
If Everton want to be a big club again, they need to start acting like it, or else they'll stay in a cycle of mediocrity with no way out.