Kevin Thelwell must move now as Everton in talks for Anthony Gordon 2.0
Everton have the chance to finally replace Anthony Gordon if they can sign Turkish international Yusuf Yazici on a free transfer.
Jeunes Footeux reported on 7 September that the Toffees are one of several clubs interested in signing the 27-year-old attacking midfielder, along with fellow Premier League sides Bournemouth and Leicester City, and they have already reached out.
Lazio are also keen on Yazici, who left Lille OSC at the end of last season, but in order to fill a key gap in Sean Dyche’s squad, Kevin Thelwell should do his upmost to bring the midfielder to Goodison Park.
The Toffees’ lack of creativity going forward has been massively apparent so far this season, showing that they still miss the likes of Anthony Gordon – and Yazici could prove to be the ideal replacement.
Yusuf Yazici can be the new Anthony Gordon for Everton
With Yazici one of the most desirable free agents still without a club following the end of the transfer window in most European countries, his potential value to Everton cannot be understated.
FBref list Gordon as the fifth-most similar player to Yazici in terms of his style as an attacking midfielder or winger, with the pair having both netted 12 goals in all competitions last season.
Although Gordon played more than double the minutes of Yazici’s 1,312 for Lille last season, they recorded the exact same figure of 0.34 goals per 90, showing a high level of output across the board.
Yazici’s xG per 90 (0.37) was actually higher than Gordon’s 0.32, and although his assist numbers weren’t to the standard of the now-Newcastle winger’s (10 from 8.0 xA), he did not lack in creativity.
The pair’s non-penalty expected goals and assists last season read 0.5 per 90 for Yazici compared to 0.54 for Gordon [FBRef], albeit the Turkish playmaker is more comfortable in a central position.
With Dyche still inclined to start Abdoulaye Doucoure as his most advanced midfielder so far in the new campaign, the Toffees manager’s head could well be turned if Thelwell manages to land Yazici.
In other Everton news, Toffees fans have been told to brace themselves for some ‘bizarre’ financial news involving the club’s debts.
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