Goodison Stats: King should earn longer Everton stay despite figures
Despite remaining coy on potential signings throughout the recent winter transfer window, Carlo Ancelotti brought Josh King to Everton on the final day.
The Norway international joined the Toffees on a short-term deal from Bournemouth, returning to the Premier League for the first time since being relegated with the Cherries last season.
Since completing his switch to Goodison Park King has played sparingly, having made six substitute appearances for the Blues, totalling less than 90 minutes of action.
So should the club look to extend his short-term deal in the summer?
Having played so little football since moving to Merseyside, King has hardly been posting the most promising figures in an Everton shirt.
According to stats gathered by WyScout, the 29-year old hasn’t yet had a shot on goal across six appearances, having also yet to touch the ball in the opposition’s penalty area.
The former Manchester United academy product has only provided one cross in six games, that cross being inaccurate, and in three of his appearances he has failed to register a single dribble attempt.
The Premier League’s statisticians also record that King hasn’t created a single ‘big chance’.
Statistically speaking, King has yet to offer anything that would suggest a lengthier stay could be in the cards for him, however football isn’t a game entirely ruled by statistics.
Ancelotti is a fan of King, having praised him for his performance against Fulham last month, and that suggests that there is something unquantifiable about his game that statistics just can’t support.
Everton currently sit at the precipice of European qualification ahead of next season, and European football would demand that the club increase their squad depth, both in regards to quality and the number of players who can regularly feature.
King is still adapting to life on Merseyside, and he has yet to have an extended run-out for the Blues, but even still we believe that a lengthier stay for him should be on the cards.
The forward scored 48 times for Bournemouth in Premier League, proving that he has the pedigree to impress in the top flight, and Everton may find it difficult to land someone so versatile and with a proven goalscoring record for so cheap.
The Toffees should look to strengthen and enhance their current options up front and from width, but King could prove to be a valuable squad player to keep, regardless of his statistical deficiencies.
In other Everton news, Ancelotti believes the club’s team spirit is so high that it could not be improved.