Never-before-seen Everton talent included in first-team training – Journalist
Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has not been afraid to utilise his academy players in the Premier League since arriving at Goodison Park.
Both Jarrad Branthwite and Anthony Gordon have made their Premier League debuts under the Italian, and haven’t looked back since.
So, with pre-season training having resumed at Finch Farm, will Ancelotti be taking advantage of the academy anymore?
The answer to that is yes. Liverpool Echo journalist Phil Kirkbride has detailed the one defender who has made the step up.
“Niels Nkounkou, who joined the club from Marseille in July, has been promoted to Lucas Digne’s deputy for the time being and has been training with the first team since their return to Finch Farm on Sunday,” he wrote.
Having arrived back in July, the young full-back may not have expected this jump so early, but the unexpected retirement of Leighton Baines will surely have pushed Ancelotti into action to find his replacement quickly.
The Toffees are still in the market for another left-back, and Sky Sports did report that they had placed an £18million offer for the Real Madrid man.
Chelsea were also interested but they have now moved on to Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell, leaving the door open for Everton.
Lucas Digne will be first-choice no matter what. The Frenchman has been superb since joining from Paris Saint-Germain and Nkounkou will have to impress massively in training to get some sort of action next season.
In other Everton news, Mino Raiola has offered this European giant the chance to sign Toffees talent