Everton Transfers: Top 5 Central Midfield Targets
Everton manager David Moyes needs to sign a quality central midfielder who can string passes in midfield.
Even ifย Moyes plans to give Ross Barkley an extended run, it's imperative thatย Everton sign a reliable central midfielder.ย
Lewis Holtby would be ideal because he's an Everton supporter, but theย Toffees'ย shoestring budget will be a major barrier to the deal becoming reality.ย
Just to give you a glimpse of theย dearth of class inย Moyes' midfield:ย Wolverhampton Wanderers had a higher overall ball-possession average than Everton last season.ย
Here are the top five central midfield targets for the Toffees.
5. Idrissa Gana Gueye, Lille, Age: 22
1 of 5Idrissa Gana Gueye spent most of the season watching and learning fromย Rio Mavuba, Florent Balmont and Benoit Pedretti.ย
Whenย Gueye was given chances to shine, he took care of the ball by completing 88.9 percent of his passes.ย
His ability to win back possession even in limited minutes was noteworthy.
He could be toย Everton whatย Lassana Diarra was toย Portsmouth.ย
4. Elkin Soto, Mainz, Age: 31
2 of 5Ifย Elkin Soto wasn't a late-bloomer, he'd be inย Fredy Guarรญn's situation.ย
Sotoย won back possession 6.6 times per game while also being a creative threat.
It's a joy to watch him be soย agricultural in the tackle, yet have the ability to maraud past several opposing players.ย
3. Gaetano D'Agostino, Siena, Age: 30
3 of 5Several years ago, Gaetano D'Agostinoย was one of the best midfielders inย Serie A.
Nowadays, he's playing forย Siena.ย
He doesn't shy away from the tackle, and his technical prowess will enable him to prosper in the Premier League.
However, it remains to be seen if he's willing to step outside his comfort zone.
The same can be said aboutย Yasuhito Endล andย Mohamed Aboutrika.ย
2. Joan Verdú, Espanyol, Age: 29
4 of 5Joan Verdรบ possesses wonderful passing abilityโthoughย he is a poor man'sย Xavi, which is why the 29-year-old never made the grade atย Barcelona.ย
He orchestrates Espanyol's midfieldย by averaging 65.6 passes per game while also launching incisive diagonal passes.ย
1. Josh McEachran, Chelsea, Age: 19
5 of 5Chelsea didn't giveย Fabio Borini a chance, and now the Italian could haunt the Blues as aย Liverpool player.ย
Josh McEachran has good football intelligence and wonderful passing ability, and he moves well without the ball.ย
Acquiring him on a loan deal is low risk, high reward forย David Moyes.ย
Talking about young midfielders, he has to giveย Ross Barkley an extended run in the first team next season.
Here's some insight fromย Jimmy Lumsden about Barkley:
"Heโs as good as anyone Iโve seen in the middle of the park, and could be anything he wants.ย Heโs got the touch, the awareness on the ball and the flair.
Currently heโs filling out to be a big lad as well, which will help him play in the Premier League.
The Premier League is a very hard league to introduce young players to. If you are just below half way in the table you are perhaps looking with one eye at the bottom end and potentially getting sucked into that so itโs tough on young boys to bring them in then.
The boy had a couple of injuries which held him back but the boy has no worries now.
"
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