Phil Jagielka’s Everton career is winding down but is the Southampton defender the right player to replace him?
When you are looking to replace your ageing, 34-year-old centre-back, it does not appear to make a whole lot of sense to bring in a player only 15 months his junior.
Therefore, reports that Everton are ready to bring Phil Jagielka’s decade-long stay at Goodison Park to an end, coupled with ongoing speculation that Ronald Koeman could attempt to engineer a reunion with Southampton defender Jose Fonte at Merseyside, have elicited a few questions from Toffees supporters.
The Daily Mail claim that West Ham and Sunderland are monitoring the situation of the long-standing England international who, after a series of error-strewn performances this season including giving away two penalties against Manchester City in October, is no longer a regular fixture in the Toffees’ starting XI.
And, while Jose Fonte remains as solid and consistent as ever, he is not a long term solution at the age of 33. Yet, the Daily Mirror reports that Everton are preparing a bid for a player valued by the Saints at £12 million. Not a lot of resale value, not to mention longevity.
Therefore, although he will be monstrously overpriced, he is English after all, fellow reported target Ben Gibson would surely represent a far more convincing solution. Only three Premier League teams have conceded fewer goals than Middlesbrough and the 23-year-old’s strength, pace and positioning have played a major part.
The Mirror claimed earlier in the month that Koeman is eyeing up Gibson, nephew of Boro owner Steve, who, at ten years Fonte’s junior, could become the beating heart of Everton’s defence for the foreseeable future.
Just like Jagielka.
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