Reports in Spain suggest Sevilla star Steven N’Zonzi has fallen out of favour with manager Eduardo Berizzo. It’s been claimed that the midfielder has been made to train alone following an argument during the the club’s 3-3 draw with Liverpool in the Champions League.

You wonder if a return to the Premier League could be on the cards for the twenty-eight year old, he had shone in England previously at Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City.

The player himself has stated just how much he liked the English top flight  last month:

“The Premier League? I love it, I really like English football and that is where I began to really improve as a player.”

“I had a great time in England but I don’t know what is going to happen in the future.”

That and his apparent problems with Los Rojiblancos head coach seem to suggest a move back to England could be on the immediate horizon.

I think both Merseyside clubs could be interested in his signature, if he were indeed to become available during the next transfer window.

The midfielder has already been linked with a move to Goodison Park.

N’Zonzi worked under new Everton boss Sam Allardyce and Big Sam even checked to see if he could call up the Frenchman for the England squad in 2016.

The Toffees haven’t had the best of times of it this term and another man in the engine room might be welcomed, especially if Allardyce decides Morgan Schniederlin no longer has the required desire to star in the Premier League.

Steven is obviously a player the Toffees gaffer admires and trusts, so it might make sense in him going for the player to start his era at Goodison. He’d add extra passing stability in beside Idrissa Gueye.

Liverpool on the other hand might be thinking more about next season when it comes to bringing in N’Zonzi.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp must be thinking that countryman Emre Can will more than likely leave the Reds on a Bosman in the summer.

While RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita is set to join in July, you’d still imagine that Klopp will want another central midfielder in to add more competition for places in the squad.

For Liverpool, it might make sense to bring in N’Zonzi during the January window and give him time to get used to the team’s tactics and style. He’d be cup-tied for the Champions League but he could come in for Can during the league and FA Cup encounters.

Question marks continue to surround Philippe Coutinho’s future at Anfield and I’m not sure Georginio Wjinaldum has been the dynamic player that Klopp and Co were hoping for.

While the midfielder hasn’t had the greatest of campaigns so far this season, he has impressed greatly in La Liga and in Europe since joining Sevilla in 2015. The player’s form won him his first international caps for the French national team last month.

Currently his passing success rate is up at 90.5% and it averaged at 89.9% last year in the Spanish top flight. Not many in European football beat Steven’s passing success stats.

He also adds height into the middle of the park and he uses that well with his aerial ability. This season he’s winning on average 3.1 headers per La Liga match and that stat was 3 per game last season.

N’Zonzi is a man who can defend and get the ball to the more creative forces in his team. Both Merseyside clubs could do with that in their sides. Both have been questioned defensively this year and having Steven’s height on the park would be advantageous.

Being calm and composed on the ball would also benefit either Merseyside club, if they chose to enquire about his availability. He starts moves rather than just stop them.

The tall middle-man is also very athletic and can often charge into the opponent’s half and his runs are often not picked up. He works hard to be as good as he is and that’s admirable.

Other teams such as Juventus, Manchester City and Arsenal have all been linked with the player recently. That’s how highly regarded he is.

So it wouldn’t necessarily be a straight fight between Liverpool and Everton but both Merseyside clubs should be earmarking him as a midfielder who can help make their sides better.

January is set to be an interesting month for Steven N’Zonzi, a move back to the Premier League seems to be his ideal destination.

 

Posted on December 4th, 2017 by scott
Filed under: Article