Rafa Benitez has endured a fraught spell after a raft of injuries to key players, so should try to re-sign Idrissa Gueye and these former Everton stars in the January transfer window.
The Toffees started strongly under the Spaniard after Farhad Moshiri appointed Benitez to replace Carlo Ancelotti in June. They took three wins and a draw in their first four Premier League fixtures, but have only taken three-points in two of their next 13 to eight defeats.
Scoring has proven a particular issue for the Blues, who have struck just 11 in their last 13 games. Only Norwich (7) have scored fewer since September 14, albeit not on even games.
Benitez can point to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s quadriceps injury as one of the causes behind Everton’s plight. The striker has not featured since August, when he scored three goals in three games. He is also not the only Toffees star to spend a notable spell on the sidelines.
Gueye – PSG squad player can give Benitez midfield depth
Benitez has had to deal with injuries for each of his central midfielders since taking over at Everton. Andre Gomes has missed the most Premier League games (11), ahead of Fabian Delph (8), Tom Davies (7), Abdoulaye Doucoure (4), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (4) and Allan (1).
The Toffees could use the mid-season window as a chance to provide Benitez with another option. And if so, should look to bring Paris Saint-Germain’s Gueye back to Goodison Park.
Gueye left in 2019 for £30m after proving himself to be one of the English top-flight’s best holding midfielders. The 84-cap Senegal enforcer ended his last season with the division’s second-most successful tackles (142) and sixth-most interceptions (74), per WhoScored.
But Gueye is not holding a vital role in Mauricio Pochettino’s unit so far this season. So, Benitez and Everton could look to tempt PSG into holding talks over a January transfer.
Stones – The rock of the Everton backline once again?
As with Everton’s attack and midfield, injuries have hit Benitez in defence this season. He has spent periods without Yerry Mina, and had to use centre-halves at full-back, as well.
So, the Spaniard could look to Manchester City and John Stones’ status on Pep Guardiola’s fringes for a winter reinforcement. The former Blues defender, who left Goodison in 2016 for £47.5m, has only started four of his six Premier League appearances so far this term.
Guardiola also fielded the 27-year-old at right-back for his starting role in their 7-0 rout of Leeds. Instead, Aymeric Laporte has overtaken Stones as Ruben Dias’ first-choice partner.
Stones had formed a formidable partnership with Dias last season on route to the title. His form even secured the 55-cap England star a £250k-a-week contract extension in August.
But Chronicle Live report City expect Stones will soon seek regular first-team minutes again. He could even leave the Etihad Stadium on loan in the January transfer window, given his lack of regular chances. So, Stones
may be an ideal option for cash-strapped Everton to eye.
Deulofeu – Koeman cast off the next winger for Benitez to relish working with?
Everton’s struggles with Financial Fair Play requirements saw Benitez spend just £1.5m this summer. All of that fee went toward signing Demarai Gray from Bayer Leverkusen, as well.
The 25-year-old arrived at Goodison to little fanfare, but has proven to be one of the Blues’ most important players. As has free signing Andros Townsend, with the pair accounting for eight of Everton’s 21 Premier League goals and four assists so far this season.
But Benitez remains keen on further strengthening Everton’s wings in the January transfer window, per the Liverpool Echo. So, he should look to bring Gerard Deulofeu back to Goodison and give the Spaniard a chance to prove ex-Blues boss Ronald Koeman wrong.
Deulofeu spent four-years at Everton after joining from Barcelona in 2013 and returning to the Camp Nou in 2017. He also spent the latter half of the 2016/17 season at AC Milan on loan after falling out with Koeman during the Dutchman’s time in charge on Merseyside.
“I can tell you about Koeman from my personal experience, and I have very little to tell you about Koeman,” Deulofeu said last year, via quotes by Marca. “He provided me absolutely nothing. I wasn’t happy, I asked to leave and I went to Milan.”
Deulofeu currently players for Udinese after joining the Serie A side for €17m (£14.5m) this January. He is in fine form this season, and is offering an option at striker as well as on the wing. So, he can be an attractive former Everton star for Benitez to target in January.
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