NEWS NEWS BLOG SPORT looks at what could happen at Everton in the January transfer window.
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| John Stones is wanted by Manchester United and Chelsea |
Everton under Roberto Martinez have become one of the most fashionable outfits in the Premier League.
With a number of top sides failing to produce consistent performances, this season represents one of the Toffees’ best opportunities to get back into the Champions League for the first time since 2005.
However, a top-four finish will rely on them hanging onto all the members of their talented young squad which Martinez admits will be a challenge despite the Spaniard claiming he has no interest in any January outgoings.
And while Everton may be content to keep the majority of their current personnel, there are certain areas which could do with strengthen.
News News Blog Sport assesses all the potential business on the blue side of Stanley Park this January.
What do they need?
This depends on whether anyone heads for the exit, but one thing is clear: Everton need a goalkeeper. Badly.
It used to be the way that a man in a blue shirt in Liverpool would tell you they had the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, but the last 18 months have been woeful for Tim Howard.
His performance for the USA at the World Cup aside, the American’s decline has been worryingly rapid and Joel Robles hardly seems like a suitable long-term replacement.
Other than that, a centre-half wouldn’t go amiss, especially if John Stones is tempted away, since the prospect of Phil Jagielka and Ramiro Funes Mori isn’t one that will fill many with hope.
How much can they spend?
Bill Kenwright’s chequebook is famously difficult to tempt out of its lair, and having spent £16million over the summer while recouping only £500,000, he may be stingy once again unless Martinez can shift on some dead wood.
Everton, in recent years best known for selling their very best players, have managed to cling onto many of their current stars but without a major sale the Merseyside club will only be shelling out for the right player, and possibly not even then.
Goalkeepers though tend to be the cheapest of the lot, and there’s no financial reason Martinez shouldn’t be able to sign the best he can find, although he will have to work hard to justify any significant spend.
Who might they sign?
Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda’s contract will expire this summer, meaning the French club may be forced to cash in on their international keeper.
However, the 30-year-old may not be seen as a long-term replacement for the current Everton stopper Howard. Even so, with the American in such poor form, an 18-month deal for Mandanda may just fit.
With so many teams weak defensively at the moment it is a seller’s market in terms of centre-backs.
Reports have linked Bernardo Espinosa of Sporting Dijon with a move to Everton, but they could face competition from Watford.
Espinosa’s contract expires at the end of the season too and Kenwright may be tempted to wait until the summer to sign him, but other deals could force his hand when the window finally opens.
Who might leave?
Everton's whole starting line-up could be targeted as other top-half sides look to strengthen in January.
Reports have indicated that Chelsea will renew their efforts to sign John Stones; the failure to do has been suggested as one of the reasons behind Jose Mourinho’s downfall, but they are now set to launch a record bid for a defender.
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