Everton have concerns Seamus Coleman cannot last the season as their first-choice right-back and will target an adequate alternative option in January, according to The Athletic.
The Toffees are running the rule over their squad, as their search for form continues after losing 4-1 to Liverpool. They have now failed to win their last eight Premier League games.
Everton have sought to sign Coleman’s long-term successor for a number of windows, but remain on the hunt. Their failure to strengthen in the position under a succession of head coaches has been a great failure for the Goodison Park outfit’s recruitment department.
Club chiefs of the Merseyside outfit fear their past failures to sign a new full-back will now catch them up. So, they will once again strive to acquire an adequate signing in January.
Everton’s fears stem through concerns Coleman cannot last another campaign as their first-choice right-back. The £70k-a-week star has played every minute of his 11 Premier League appearances so far this term, while sitting out three games with a hamstring injury.
The 33-year-old also missed 10 games through last season, as he started 18 of 25 top-flight outings under Carlo Ancelotti. A hamstring issue kept Coleman out for around two-months.
Everton have no faith in Coleman deputies already at Goodison
Ancelotti often selected centre-half Mason Holgate as Coleman’s deputy during his time in charge at Everton. But the Italian’s successor, Rafa Benitez, has not shown the same faith.
Holgate has only featured in four Premier League fixtures so far this term, either at centre-back or in midfield. Benitez has also continually overlooked Toffees product Jonjoe Kenny.
The Spaniard has only handed Kenny 10-minutes of top-flight action since taking charge at Goodison. His sole outing of the term so far came in their loss at Aston Villa in September.
Everton hope to now sign an option who can rival Coleman in the January transfer window, but expect funds will be limited. Their past overspending and mistakes in the market have caught up, which played a part in Benitez turning down potential signings this summer.
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