Everton suffered a 2-0 loss to Leicester City on Sunday afternoon.
Tony Cascarino believes Everton need to sign a new central defender after the Toffees’ slump continued with a defeat to Leicester City on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Jamie Vardy and Demarai Gray saw Claude Puel earn a 2-0 win in his first match as Leicester boss, condemning Everton to another week in the bottom three of the Premier League.
Everton started with Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams at centre-back, while Michael Keane missed out due to a leg infection picked up after gashing his leg in Everton’s EFL Cup victory over Sunderland over a month ago.
The experienced duo struggled with the pace of Everton’s attack, as Vardy and Gray ran riot at the King Power Stadium to earn all three points.
Former Chelsea and Celtic ace Cascarino claimed in his Times column that the Toffees needed pace at the back and believes Keane needs a new partner with the January transfer window still two months away.
“Before they can turn their form around, Everton need to sort their central defenders. Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams cannot work as a pairing — they are both experienced but also at the end of their careers and susceptible to pace and one-on-one situations,” Cascarino said.
“Michael Keane, who was out injured, is a young talent but also looks to struggle against pace. These days you need some speed at the back. Keane needs a new partner because until Everton sort their defence, they will struggle.”
Everton are still on the hunt for a new manager as they prepare to face French giants Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday night, with interim boss David Unsworth becoming less likely to take the job permanently following two straight losses.
The Toffees desperately need to earn their first win of the Europa League group stage if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages, before facing Watford on Sunday in the Premier League.
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