If you were going to use Everton’s last two home matches as basis to plan the club’s transfer strategy for the summer, then you’d say a centre-back should be high up their list of priorities.
Against Tottenham Hotspur, Michael Keane and Mason Holgate conspired to gift the visitors a 2-2 draw by making some comical errors in the lead up to two Harry Kane goals. Holgate was at it again against Aston Villa, handing the ball to Ollie Watkins to give the visitors the lead; the Villa striker then preceded to run both Everton centre-backs ragged, including rising star Ben Godfrey.
Meanwhile, Yerry Mina, arguably the club’s best centre-back, watched on from the bench, having just recovered from another injury issue.
So perhaps it was no surprise to some to see respected journalist Fabrizio Romano report on Wednesday that Everton were looking to strengthen their central defensive options in the summer.
Everton are planning to sign a centre-back in the summer. Araujo is highly appreciated but Barcelona will *not* sell him. No talks for Demiral, he’s not even a target. 🔵 #EFC
Max Aarons update: new clubs are joining the race. Everton are now looking for other players. 🚨
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 5, 2021
But widening that period of assessment from the last two Goodison games to the entire season, there are far more significant problems for the Toffees to address at the end of the campaign.
Right-back is one, with an ageing Seamus Coleman no longer a reliable force in that area, while on both flanks Everton lack natural options, with Alex Iwobi failing to make any impact since his move from Arsenal and Bernard expected to leave the club, having come close to doing so in January.
Even in midfield, where the Toffees spent big on Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure last summer, there appears to be a dearth of athleticism and defensive awareness. At the point of the attack too, Josh King is unlikely to have his deal renewed having joined in January and not started a game, meaning some support is required for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison.
Of course, the Toffees have gone on plenty of summer splurges under the tenure of Farhad Moshiri and they could look to splash the cash again to resolve all of these problems, plus improve their options at the back.
However, following a full season of pandemic football and construction on a new stadium set to begin in the coming months, you get the sense there will a limit to the team’s spending.
While they all have their flaws, in Godfrey, Holgate, Keane and Mina, there should be enough to get by next season and make a better fist of a European push, provided the requisite adjustments are made ahead of them on the pitch.