Everton’s season ended in the worst way possible last weekend as they were well and truly battered by the Premier League champions.Their defence was cut open like a knife through butter while they lacked cutting edge and penetration on the counter-attack.
What’s the word?
One way of improving their fluency in the final third would be to sign a winger.
Football FanCast revealed last month that the Toffees were in the market for somebody who could play on the right-hand side. However, we believe Everton should stop at nothing to bolster the other flank as well.
Fortunately, it looks as though they’ll be doing exactly that. Football League World report this week that Carlo Ancelotti’s men are battling for the signature of tricky Bournemouth flanker Arnaut Danjuma.
Everton are looking to take advantage of the south coast side’s failure to get promoted from the Championship.
A number of top-flight sides are now circling with Wolves, West Ham and Brighton also interested in Danjuma’s signature.
Iwobi upgrade
If Everton can lure the attacker to Goodison Park this summer then he’d represent a huge upgrade on Alex Iwobi.
The Nigerian signed for £28m in the summer of 2019 but his arrival on Merseyside hasn’t been greeted particularly positively.
On his day, he can frighten the opposition with his dribbling but very rarely does he combine that with end product.
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Iwobi has scored just twice this term, taking his tally in the royal blue of Everton to four strikes in 65 appearances.
Those numbers aren’t strong enough whatsoever for a side challenging for a place in European football so improvement is need.
Danjuma would provide Ancelotti with the ability to beat a man but also provide goals and assists.
The Dutchman was in inspired form for the Cherries this term, racking up a mightily impressive haul of 17 goals. Capable of playing anywhere across the front three, it was on the left where he truly stood out.
The 24-year-old was impressive when it came to creating chances for his teammates as well, providing eight assists in all competitions.
He claimed the award for the EFL Championship Player of the Month in April and has gone from strength to strength this season, particularly under Jonathan Woodgate.
With the former defender at the helm, Danjuma totted up ten goals and six assists in just 18 league outings.
It’s hardly a surprise that Woodgate’s found the time to wax lyrical about his abilities: “I know last season that he didn’t really get a run in the Premier League and he maybe found it a bit difficult to get game time, but this season he’s been outstanding.â€
The Bournemouth boss continued: “I can only talk of what he’s done under my reign, but at the minute, he’s playing some exceptional football, and what else he is doing is working for the team.â€
Capable of producing moments of magic from nowhere, he’s the type of player you’d always love to have in your team.
Against Norwich he showed exactly what he’s capable of, skipping past two Canaries players before rifling a bullet right into the top corner.
It showcased his scintillating dribbling skills too, an area of his game that usurps nearly every player at Everton. Danjuma managed 1.8 dribbles per game this season, a number that only Richarlison can replicate.
This would be a top drawer signing from Ancelotti and Marcel Brands.
AND in other news, Everton can begin the transfer window with a bang by signing “dangerous” 16-goal beast…