Everton have snapped up midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin.
Everton were in the market for a new defender this summer, but failed to find a centre back for Marco Silva to work with before Thursday’s deadline.
Kurt Zouma’s loan from Chelsea came to an end, and the Blues wouldn’t let him go back to Goodison Park, leaving Everton short of defensive options.
Michael Keane and Yerry Mina will be Silva’s first choice centre back pairing this season, and whilst Mason Holgate will now have a surprise chance to push for first-team football, there’s a lack of other alternatives.
Silva has admitted himself that youngster Lewis Gibson isn’t ready yet, meaning new signing Jean-Philippe Gbamin may be required to fill in there.
The Ivorian, 23, joined Everton from Mainz earlier this month, with BBC Sport reporting that the fee was £25million, seemingly being brought in as a replacement for Idrissa Gueye following his move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Gbamin came on as a substitute against Palace in a midfield role, but his performance didn’t exactly encourage many as he endured a difficult start to life in the Premier League.
Whilst he’s primarily a midfielder, Gbamin has experience of playing in a centre back role for Mainz, and that versatility may now be needed more than Everton initially planned when they signed him.
Everton have other midfielders such as Morgan Schneiderlin and Tom Davies, meaning they have options if they do have to play Gbamin in defence, and having that kind of cover at the back cushions the blow of failing to sign Zouma.
Holgate may be given the nod of Gbamin if it comes to that, and whilst the situation isn’t exactly ideal, they do at least have a player who can step in if needed until January, when Marcel Brands can dip back into the market.
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