Yannick Bolasie returned from almost a year out injured recently, playing for Everton’s u23 side. But what can he bring to the first team when fit enough to play?
First thing’s first, in Bolasie’s own words (via the Liverpool Echo) he won’t be “really back at it” for a month or two. So those expecting an instant transformation should relax; he was injured for a long, long while and will need time to get up to speed.
That being said, once he is fully fit again Everton will have a most excellent weapon with which to not only avoid relegation but make some inroads into those lofty ambitions they set themselves of breaking into the Premier League’s top six.
Everton’s major problem under Ronald Koeman this season was a lack of pace and true play from the wings. Due to Bolasie’s injury and Aaron Lennon’s mental health issues, the Toffees didn’t really have much pace out wide and it hurt them.
Sam Allardyce has solved some of that by both playing a returned Aaron Lennon but also by starting Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a central striker. This has given Everton some pace and dynamism, but not a whole lot.
Yannick Bolasie, therefore, would be utterly transformative. The Congolese international is fleet of foot and possesses an almost hypnotic dribbling ability. He bamboozles opposing defenders with baffling bodyswerves and terrific technique.
Since 2013/14 (when Crystal Palace joined the Premier League), Bolasie is in the top for completed dribbles with 277 and that’s despite playing less matches than everyone else around him thanks to injury. He’s a dynamo.
Sam Allardyce is often labelled a boring manager who uses nothing but long-ball tactics, but Allardyce is the coach who brought Jay-Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff to the Premier League. He always lets one or two players have creative freedom to play and entertain the fans.
At Everton one of those players is obviously Gylfi Sigurdsson, and the other would quite naturally be Yannick Bolasie. Playing out wide he would not only provide the pace and dribbling threat that could help Everton do damage to their opponents, but he’d be delightful doing so.
Sam Allardyce will almost certainly keep Everton up, but with Yannick Bolasie in his side he could end up doing so much more as well. The Congolese winger could make Everton a legitimately good side to watch.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
