Rafa Benitez wants to sign a new central midfielder for Everton in January
Everton manager Rafa Benitez is looking to sign a new central midfielder in January, as well as a right and left-back, according to The Guardian.
The Toffees have already agreed a deal with Dynamo Kiev for the signature of Ukrainian left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko – and that could ultimately rise to £20million in fee.
They also plan to return with a third bid for Rangers right-back Nathan Patterson, 20, in January after their opening £5million offer in the summer was rejected.
However, Everton will need to improve on the £9million bid that was also knocked back by the Scottish Premiership champions to finally land the Scotland international.
Huge boost
Benitez is ready to strengthen in three different positions, and that should help get his side’s campaign back on track.
With French left-back Lucas Digne already out of favour after falling out with the Spaniard, it seems he has already played his last game for the Goodison Park outfit.
Mykolenko has already undergone a medical, with only an official announcement remaining, while landing Patterson will most likely see skipper Seamus Coleman play a reduced role going forward.
Benitez wants his full-backs to play in a certain way, and he is surely satisfied with what he has seen from the Ukrainian and Rangers sensation.
Given how injuries have ravaged his whole team so far, getting in another central midfielder is definitely important, and starting February with three new players will be massive.
Finishing in the European zone is still very much possible despite their recent struggles, and getting it right in January and having some luck on the injury front should help Everton finish the 2021-22 campaign well.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are plotting January loan-to-buy bid for centre-mid hailed by Jack Grealish last month.
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