Everton are currently sitting just inside the Premier League’s top half of the table.

They’ve been impressive under new boss Marco Silva but they could still improve, especially if they want to break into the top six or challenge for silverware.

One thing that could be improved upon is their goalscoring.

So far this term, The Toffees have struck nineteen league goals in their opening twelve games. Not a bad return but seven other teams have bettered it.

Silva has recently stuck Brazilian international Richarlison through the middle and it looks like the twenty-one year old has all the attributes to lead the line. He’s got the pace and skill to beat opposing players and the former Watford man’s also a strong unit that won’t be easily bullied off the ball. Richarlison has grabbed six goals in ten top flight appearance thus far.

Behind the Brazilian, Gylfi Sigurdsson is shining in an Everton jersey as he’s now playing as the club’s number ten. He’s scored five times and created two assists. A lot of what’s good for The Toffees is coming through the Icelandic star.

Summer signing Bernard has started playing on the left wing after taking time to adapt to the English style. He looks to be a creative winger that will be on hand to provide plenty of assists for teammates.

If there’s a bit of a weak-link in the forward line then it could be coming from the right flank and Theo Walcott.

The English international has been at Goodison for eleven months and his tally this term has been two goals and two assists. He doesn’t take enough games by the scruff of the neck nor does he contribute enough. He doesn’t convince when he’s got plenty of time on the ball and he isn’t the best provider either. He may have been an ever present this term but he could hardly argue if he were to be dropped.

One name in the Eredivisie that could interest Everton and he’d be well suited to play on their right-hand side would be PSV Eindhoven’s Hirving Lozano.

The Mexican forward has been in sensational form during this campaign; he’s scored eight Dutch top flight goals and created four assists. He’s also scored and assisted in his side’s Champions League run.

His devastating pace and lethal finishing was in full effect as he helped PSV record a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in Europe’s elite competition.

Lozano has spent most of this season out on the right wing and he’s looked superb on that channel.

‘El Chucky’ would offer The Toffees another serious direct goal threat. On average Hirving has taken 3.4 shots per his twelve Eredivisie games, more than double that of Walcott’s 1.5 in his twelve Premier League outings. He’s also enjoyed a higher passing success rate than Theo’s 75%.

As well as scoring goals, the twenty-three year old is an efficient crosser of the ball and is an attacking player who can spot an excellent through ball opportunity.

Like other attackers currently at Goodison, Lozano would offer versatility in the forward areas. As well as playing on the right, the Mexican internationalist can play on the left and as a makeshift central striker.

Now while we know that Everton can offer big bucks for footballers these days, PSV won’t be in a rush to sell one of their top talents. They are chasing the Dutch title after all.

Current Boeren boss Mark van Bommel stated in the summer that the club were in no rush to sell the forward:

“I do not take into account a departure from Lozano. We do not want to lose him. If we can say no to a bid of forty or fifty million euros? Yes, that’s possible.”

But it could be that PSV do have a price that they’d sell Lozano for and maybe Everton could be at an advantage when it comes to finding out that price.

As well as hiring a new head coach in Marco Silva in the summer, The Toffees also brought in a new Director of Football in Marcel Brands.

Brands was previously employed at PSV in the same role. So he would have handled Hirving’s transfer from Pachuca in 2017. He’ll certainly know the winger’s best qualities and the right people to talk to regarding a potential deal.

Earlier this seasons Brands paid Hirivng a huge compliment:

‘But actually when you look at his playing style, without wanting to compare, you know, Lozano has what Messi also has – a centre of gravity low to the ground, the ball is usually quickly under control, very explosive and agile. Then your opponents automatically force mistakes.’

You’ve got to believe that Marcel Brands would be neglecting his duties at Everton if he weren’t to use his close contacts at the Philips Stadion and not try and persuade them to sell Hirving Lozano.

The biggest problem could be stealing a march on the other top European clubs that are no doubt interested in the Mexican’s signature.

Posted on November 13th, 2018 by scott
Filed under: Article