Everton: 5 Players David Moyes Should Consider to Replace Steven Pienaar

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Steven Pienaar departed Everton in January 2011, leaving a huge chasm down Everton’s flanks that, as of yet, has not been filled. His ingenuity and guile was central to Everton’s attacking ambitions, and he was consistently the architect behind many attacking plays. In Pienaar’s absence, many players were given the task of playing out wide. Yet, none proved to be as potent or influential as Everton’s 2010 Fans’ Player of the Year. 

In terms of spending power, Everton has been almost none existent in recent transfer markets, since they're stretched to the limit financially. However, finding a successor to the diminutive South African is crucial if the Toffees are to stand any chance of building on their seventh-placed finish from last term. 

Pienaar departed for a fee of around £2-3 million, which should still be available to spend. Additionally, James Vaughan recently left for a similar total and Joseph Yobo and Yakubu look set to be offloaded. With a few fringe players, such as Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and John Heitinga, that are perhaps getting restless on Everton’s bench, David Moyes could end up with a decent amount of ammunition to bolster his squad. 

Charles N'Zogbia

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Blessed with a mesmeric left foot, the Frenchman is leaving Wigan this summer and Everton is one of his many admirers. Logistics of wages and fees stand in the way at the moment, but N’Zogbia would certainly boost the calibre of Everton’s squad. 

He hit eight assists last season and scored from three direct free kicks, the highest tally in the EPL. He was pivotal in keeping Wigan in the Premier League and has a wealth of experience, despite being only 25 years of age. One feels N’Zogbia would strike up an impressive partnership with Leighton Baines down the left and would significantly boost the pace and creativity departments.

Matt Jarvis

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Recently called up by England, Jarvis has been delivering noticeable performances down the Wolves’ flanks for a couple of seasons now. The former Gillingham man is skilful, nippy and capable of peppering the box all afternoon with his delivery. As with N’Zogbia, he contributed eight assists for Wolves last season, a tally that surpassed every Everton player apart from Leighton Baines.

Again, at just 25, Jarvis is about to enter the pinnacle of his career and a step up in his surroundings would benefit him. His value may have rocketed out of Everton’s current range. Such is the inflation English players seem to attract at the moment. If Everton are forced to sell one of their bigger names this summer, Jarvis should be one of the players Everton pursues with a bigger purse. He's a player that should seamlessly fit into Everton's dynamics.

Landon Donovan

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Few players could cause fans to gain such a quick attachment to them as Donovan did in his loan spell 18 months ago. Such was his industry, commitment and passion shown towards the club. Everton supporters could not help but fall in love with the LA Galaxy’s main man. He showcased everything supporters adore in a player and was sorely missed once he left.

His continued support for Everton on Twitter and constant pledge to return to Goodison Park one day serves only to inadvertently tease Everton fans. It is a case of now or never for the 29-year-old, although, his advancing years could lessen his price. One feels a move for Donovan would appease a vast quantity of supporters growing restless at the idle state of Everton’s transfer activities. Donovan's good reputation in football would be a welcomed change to the cheaper calibre of players Everton are frequently linked with.

Chris Eagles

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Although he has not convincingly made the transition from Championship to the Premier League, Eagles’ craft and pace is an element Everton badly needs at the moment. Moyes is no stranger to moulding leading lights from the Championship into Premier League powerhouses such as Tim Cahill, Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott. Eagles’ Manchester United schooling should only hasten his evolution and would not leave him short of connections within Everton’s dressing room.

As with Jarvis and N'Zogbia, Eagles is 25 and should be about to enter the prime years of his career. David Moyes has monitored him several times and is clearly a fan of the winger who would bring pace, trickery and perhaps more of a goal threat than the other players on this list. He would be a welcomed addition and a cheaper alternative to the other targets, leaving more money for Moyes to spend on reinforcements elsewhere, especially up front.

David Bentley

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Probably not such a popular choice, but if David Moyes can coax some of the form Bentley displayed so frequently for Blackburn, a move for the extravagant wide man could prove beneficial for Everton. Once dubbed as a successor to David Beckham for England, his career has truly stalled at Tottenham Hotspur after once appearing to bulge with potential. 

His delivery is his main asset, and his versatility to hug the line or play behind a front man would suit Everton. David Moyes monitored his situation with Spurs in January, trying to obtain him on loan, although, Bentley chose the higher wages of an offer at Birmingham. Bentley is another player Moyes is evidently a fan of, a wildcard choice perhaps?