New York Times journalist, Rory Smith, and ex-Premier League striker, Chris Sutton, have spoken on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport about Alex Iwobi’s struggles at Everton following his move from Arsenal in 2019.
A product of the Arsenal academy, Iwobi was a stop-start player during his time at the Emirates, before the club eventually sold him to Everton for £34 million two years ago (BBC Sport).
But Iwobi hasn’t been able to get his engine going on Merseyside either and has struggled to become a first-team regular.
NYT journalist Smith claimed that Everton purchased the trickster from Arsenal without any real planning, as Sutton responded to those claims.
“They haven’t been brought in with any plan in mind,” said Smith. “What do they plan to do with Alex Iwobi? What was their plan with Iwobi? He’s a good player.
“But they didn’t seem to have any real idea with what they were going to do with him.”
“Hang on,” responded Sutton. “How can you say that?”
To which the Smith responded and said “They have played him in three different positions and they have never given him a proper run in the team.”
Sutton then added: “So, you are saying when they did the due diligence on Iwobi and they did it with no planning at all. They thought ‘we are just going to get him in. He’s another body’. What was he, £30 odd million?”
Smith responded: “I think they thought ‘he’s a good player. We will sign him and able to do something with him’. And it hasn’t worked.”
Everton ended the season in a pretty abject fashion as they were smashed away from home by the Premier League champions, Manchester City.
After dreaming of Champions League football towards the start of the campaign, they ended the season without any European football at all.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if a player like Iwobi is moved on this summer because Everton’s squad needs refreshing and their 2019 signing hasn’t exactly done anything which is worthy of keeping him on.
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