Everton are fine at right back and didn’t need to get involved in the race for new Union Berlin man Josip Juranovic, according to Kevin Campbell.
The Croatia international left Celtic for an initial £7.5million, rising to £10million in total, during the January transfer window (23 January) after being linked to the likes of Chelsea and Barcelona [Sky Sports, 28 December] which left Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas “genuinely perplexed” on Twitter (21 January) as to why Everton and other Premier League sides had missed out.
But Sky Sports pundit Campbell was unmoved by the transfer passing Everton by because he feels there is adequate cover for the main man Nathan Patterson, who cost £12million a year ago.
The former Toffees captain exclusively told Goodison News that it wasn’t a problem: “No. Everton have got Patterson. They’ve spent money on Patterson, a young right back.
“They’ve got Seamus Coleman there as a deputy now that he’s getting to the back end of his career.
“So I don’t see that being a big problem.
“I think Patterson’s a good player. Obviously he’s learning the trade but he’s a decent player.
“So Everton have enough cover at right back. [Ben] Godfrey can play at right back as well.
“Not the end of the world.”
With Patterson out injured and Coleman not the player he once was there is perhaps an argument that a reasonably priced international player would make sense.
The Toffees appeared to be in the market for a new player at right back when they made overtures towards then-Barcelona man Hector Bellerin but were knocked back [Sport, 20 January].
Juranovic probably could have added something to the squad, but given just how many targets were missed out on in attacking areas where the need was more pressing, it is perhaps no surprise that the club didn’t do anything in defence either.