Should Everton step up their pursuit of the Argentine playmaker?
The biggest imprint left by Ross Barkley on Monday night was on Jordan Henderson’s ankle rather than the all-important midfield battle. In the end, it was Everton’s inability to control any aspect of the game in the second half that led to their last-gasp demise, not helped by yet another anonymous attacking display from their enigmatic number eight.
It’s no secret that Everton are desperate for a dynamic central midfielder and Barkley’s lifeless performance against Liverpool will only have encouraged Ronald Koeman to step up his January pursuit.
Therefore, it must have come as a major disappointing when the agent of Inter Milan playmaker/destructor Ever Banega told Calciomercato that his client has his eyes only on a long-term stay at the San Siro a matter of days after The Sun claimed that The Toffees had entered negotiations to secure his signature to the tune of a bargain £8 million.
And, just two days later, Banega proved exactly why Everton are reportedly so determined to make him their statement signing and why they should not give up yet.
In the space of just a few seconds of Inter’s 3-0 hammering of Lazio on Wednesday night, the Argentine international displayed all the characterises conspicuous by their absence from the Everton midfield in recent months.
Hassling and ripping the ball away from Lazio’s loitering midfielder Sergei Milinkovic-Savic on the edge of the box, Banega turned instantly and rifled a thunderous drive into the top corner. Entirely on his own, Banega had given Inter the lead and breathed life into a hitherto dawdling team display.
That mix of tenacity and technique makes him one of the world’s most complete midfielders, a true jack of all trades perfect for an Everton midfield chock full of underperforming specialists.
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