Let’s face it – Everton’s midfield last season was a problem.
The Toffees’ most used XI, according to WhoScored, saw Tom Davies and Gylfi Sigurdsson line up in a midfield two.
Everton’s second most-used system involved Morgan Schneiderlin and Fabian Delph as holding midfielders, with Sigurdsson playing slightly ahead.
Significantly, all four of those options ended the campaign with woeful ratings on WhoScored. Jean-Phillipe Gbamin and Andre Gomes are also in the Everton squad, but neither could stake much of a claim last term because of injuries.
It’s no surprise Carlo Ancelotti has begun his Toffees revolution by signing three new faces in that department.
One man who should be fretting more than most, however, is Sigurdsson.
The Iceland international – signed by Ronald Koeman for £45 million – scored only two league goals last season in 35 outings. That’s a poor return for someone who cost so much.
Now 31, the former Swansea playmaker is surely sweating over his future? Ancelotti has signed a solid midfield pair in Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure, who will provide the foundations for World Cup golden boot winner James Rodriguez to flourish.
Where does that leave Sigurdsson? Everton’s man at the helm has housed the likes of Kaka and Ronaldinho in number 10 roles during his coaching career, so why would he continue to stick with the Toffees’ struggling Icelander?
The former Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and AC Milan boss’ expectations must be sky high given the talent he has worked with previously. He won’t settle for less now he no longer needs to.
One presumes the Italian saw enough of the ex-Hoffenheim man to make a telling decision on his future. Additionally, it feels unlikely a man of Rodriguez’s pedigree has been signed to warm the bench. Sigurdsson won’t be happy there either.
Unless he can prove himself quickly, this is starting to look like the beginning of the end for £100k-a-week Sigurdsson at Goodison Park.
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