Everton to sign David Moyes ‘throwback’ as Fabrizio Romano details deal in place for new signing at Goodison Park
Michael Ball believes it’s a good sign he’s not really heard of the players who Everton are linked with signing this summer.
Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday (7 August) that a deal is in place for the Blues to sign 19-year-old Sporting CP striker Youssef Chermiti with the teenager currently in the UK ahead of undergoing a medical.
According to ex-Evertonian Ball, the Toffees have failed spectacularly when they’ve signed big-name players from big-name clubs so he’s happy to see Kevin Thelwell unearthing some gems in the European market as it reminds him of what David Moyes used to do at Goodison Park.
Writing for the Liverpool Echo on Monday (7 August), Ball said: “Soon after El Bilal Toure went to Atalanta, it emerged that we were in for Youssef Chermiti and what I’ve actually liked about some of these players that have been linked to Everton is I’ve gone: ‘Who?’
“It means that he’s on the Everton system and has been scouted for a number of months. He might not have been number one choice but he’s an option if number one or two doesn’t succeed.
“That’s what I mean by being cute. In the past we’ve just seen big names and thrown them in.
“Players who have come from Barcelona reserves. That’s easy, anyone who has played for Barcelona, we know they’re good but are they the right fit?
“When you watch players over a number of months, putting in a lot of hard work doing that, it’s up to those upstairs to get it over the line. The manager and director of football might like the scouting reports but it’s easier said than done.
“It’s like a throwback to when David Moyes was in charge and there were sometimes players who you didn’t always know who they were or ones you’d expect to see your team to go for. You’ve got to find players with the right attitude.”
Right attitude
That’s the spirit.
While last summer, we admit that we got a bit excited by the arrivals of players like James Tarkowski and Conor Coady because we thought they would solve our defensive woes.
Admittedly, we were wrong and while Tarkowski has come on leaps and bounds, as expected, under his former Burnley manager Dyche, Coady’s been sent back to Wolves with his tail between his legs.
There were other signings from last summer that kind of worked out. Amadou Onana, for example, and Dwight McNeil also did well under Dyche after struggling under Frank Lampard.
Onana was probably the stand-out signing. Neal Maupay and Idrissa Gueye – two players we’d all heard of – were pretty shocking.
Not many Evertonians can say they heard about Chermiti before he was linked with us this summer but that’s not a bad thing. It shows that Thelwell is doing a lot of work in trying to dig out players from Europe who could come good.
He should fit into the mould of what Dyche wants in a striker, most importantly.
In other Everton news, Robbie Savage has shared his predictions on the Toffees’ season.