Jake O’Brien could be ‘finished’ at Everton after latest transfer developments
Everton finished the season comfortably safe from relegation after David Moyes returned to Goodison Park and turned things around.
The boss will now be keen to turn his focus to the summer transfer window, in the hope of making the right additions to continue with that progress.
However, with that in mind, it could lead to some of the current Toffees squad finding themselves axed from proceedings, including Jake O’Brien.
Moyes advancing on defensive signings at Everton
Arguably, Moyes needs to be looking at additions to his squad in most positions on the pitch, Jordan Pickford’s place being the exception.
With safety secured, it seems as though the boss is wasting no time in getting to work, ready for the end of the campaign, either.
O’Brien has been a regular part of the Toffees side under the management of Moyes, but the manager’s early moves may suggest that he was just a temporary option.
| Appearnaces | Goals | Assists |
| 18 | 2 | 0 |
The 23-year-old has been deployed at right-back under the management of Moyes, but Everton are now looking to sign Georgios Vagiannidis.
Given that the Panathinakos defender has been receiving interest from elsewhere in the Premier League, with Brighton potential suitors, it suggests that if he were to be signed, it would be as a starting player.
While this would give O’Brien the option to move across to centre-back, his performances in this position have not been convincing for Everton so far and now Moyes is looking at another option too.
It has also been reported that Everton have already made a bid for Jerome Opoku, and a deal to bring him to Merseyside is close.
This could well leave O’Brien questioning where his position in the side is.
O’Brien could be finished at Everton
If Everton can pull off these new signings ahead of the start of the new campaign, it could leave O’Brien with a decision to be made about his future.
The defender could well choose to accept his position on the bench and become a secondary option for the Toffees, since they are always needed.
However, at 23 years old, it’s probably not the time to step back and therefore, a loan or permanent move could end up being the better option for both parties to get what they want.
If Moyes is serious about upgrading his team and progressing, then these are the types of tough decisions that need to be made ahead of the summer.