da 888： Everton have several improvements to make to the side if they are to put the misery of this season behind them and get to the level Carlo Ancelotti and Farhad Moshiri are likely aiming for.
da dobrowin： The Italian boss has made improvements in some areas but the Toffees still lie in 12th place, with their defensive vulnerabilities on show once more against Chelsea and Arsenal.
Added to that, the recent change in formation under Ancelotti, who has so far preferred to operate with a 4-4-2, means that Richarlison has deserted his customary position on the right-flank in favour of a central role.
Everton have options to take his place but the likes of Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi have disappointed this season, which is why the Goodison Park outfit could look to bring in Feyenoord’s Steven Berghuis.
The £12.6m-rated player has impressed in his spell for De Trots van Zuid, winning the Eredivisie title and competing in the Champions League, and the leadership qualities he has shown in captaining the club could be hugely beneficial to the Toffees.
With that under consideration, we asked our Football Fancast writers for their verdict on the possible move, and here is what they had to say.
Charles Jones
“I don’t like the idea of Everton splashing out on a right-winger as unproven as Steven Berghuis.
“The Eredivisie has proven to be a bit of a dodgy place for Premier League teams to do their shopping, remember Memphis Depay? And this one could easily go wrong just like that one did for Manchester United.
“I think the Toffees would be better off moving Richarlison back out to the right and go for a more natural striker, perhaps Ciro Immobile who they have recently been linked with.
“Carlo Ancelotti is a top class manager and he deserves to work with top class players, and I don’t think Berghuis is the right man for that.”
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Harry Sherlock
“Berghuis has been in very good form this season, scoring 22 goals and registering 11 assists, but it feels like he has found his level.
“He was awful at Watford, making just 11 appearances and failing to score a goal, and it feels as though he has made a niche at Feyenoord.
“He is the club captain, and a prolific player on the right wing.
“Everton have plenty of wing options – Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi, Bernard to name just a few – and a swoop for Berghuis would be a significant risk.
“There are surely better options out there; notably ones who haven’t flopped in England before.”
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James Beavis
“I may have seen Southampton beat Feyenoord 3-1 in a pre-season friendly at the de Kuip stadium in July of last year, but it wasn’t a Saints player who was the best on the pitch, in my opinion.
“That accolade fell to the impressive Steven Berghuis, who was a constant menace both on the right-hand side, and whenever he came off the flank and featured in more central areas.
“The 28-year-old was clearly the Dutch outfit’s talisman on the day, and it isn’t too surprising that he has been their captain in recent months.
“22 goals and 11 assists in 38 appearances in all competitions this term is nothing to be sniffed at and suggests he is more prolific than Walcott, who has 10 goals and eight assists in 79 outings since he joined the Toffees.
“Berghuis certainly showed against Saints that he looks to have the ability and quality to make an impact against Premier League sides. At the right price, he’d be worth a punt.”
Kealan Hughes
“Everton signing Berghuis would be a very wise move as he would not only provide technical skill in the way of producing moments of quality in the final third, but he would also be able to lead by example.
“His leadership could be valuable for the Toffees, as they lack players throughout the squad who are able to pick their teammates up after experiencing a setback.
“The fact they have won just five points in the 15 games they have falling behind in is evidence of that. That ranks them 16th in the Premier League, highlighting the need for Ancelotti to bring in characters as well as talent where possible.
“Having captained Feyenoord it is clear Berghuis has both of those attributes in abundance, and under Ancelotti he should thrive, just like Dominic Calvert-Lewin has with eight goals in 11 league games since the Italian arrived.”
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