Paul Merson perplexed by Wolves decision to allow Conor Coady Everton transfer in summer
Paul Merson was left “shocked” when Wolverhampton Wanderers allowed Everton to sign Conor Coady on loan in the summer, as the pundit left a rave review of the defender on Soccer Saturday.
Coady, 29, moved to Goodison Park in the summer after seven years at Wolves – who have subsequently plummeted to the bottom of the Premier League table this season.
The defender is ineligible to face his parent club on Boxing Day (26 December) as the two sides meet, but it has been reported that the Toffees are keen to make his loan deal permanent in the January window.
When asked by Jeff Stelling live on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday whether the £4.5million option to buy Coady was a good deal for the Toffees, Merson replied: “I don’t get that one.
“For me, when Conor Coady went to Everton, I was shocked because there is no way in their wildest dream that Wolves could let Coady go. I just couldn’t believe it, for me, he was their main player, the player that kept them solid.
“What they were good at was keeping clean sheets and being hard to score against. Playing three at the back, he was pulling the strings and dictating to the other two-centre halves where to go.”
Great signing
The acquisition of Coady was a smart piece of business by Farhad Moshiri and Lampard, with the option to extend his stay on Merseyside now very likely in the January transfer window.
From a Wolves’ perspective, they were foolish to lose their captain and lynchpin of their defence, and their demise since his exit speaks volumes of the standards Coady pushes wherever he plays.
England manager Gareth Southgate has an undying love for the centre-back, having selected him for the last two major tournaments, and the impact he has in the dressing room is evident.
On the pitch, Coady and James Tarkowski have struck up a burgeoning partnership at the heart of the Toffees’ defence, and if it wasn’t for their experience, Everton may well languishing in the relegation zone.
If Lampard can get the deal for Coady over the line, it could prove to be an exceptional piece of business.