Everton simply cannot repeat summer transfer disaster as Premier League shortlists emerge
Everton are at risk of repeating a disaster from the summer transfer window once again in January.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium outfit added nine new faces to their group ahead of the new campaign, but they were still left with areas of concern in the squad.
Everton are eyeing a move for Charlie Cresswell in January in a bid to address their lack of depth in the centre of defence, and there are other areas of the backline that are also causing concern.
David Moyes will know that he needs reinforcements in the full-back areas for the second half of the season, and with that in mind, the Merseysiders simply cannot afford to miss out on this target again.
Everton must secure Juanlu Sanchez transfer at second attempt
Everton were heavily linked with Juanlu Sanchez in the summer, as their interest in the Sevilla right-back spanned several months ahead of the start of the 2025-26 campaign.
However, they were ultimately unable to get a deal over the line for the 22-year-old, and their lack of depth in that position has been exposed so far this term.
Jake O’Brien has continually been used as an auxiliary option, while even James Garner has had to step into the role with the Irishman has been absent.
That is a situation that will inevitably cost Everton as the campaign plays out, unless they can address it in January.
With that in mind, they are once again chasing a move for Sanchez, according to Sevilla outlet Vamos Mi Sevilla.
Napoli are said to have made the defender a “priority” for the winter window, while he is also on the shortlists of Everton, Crystal Palace and Wolves.
The Toffees have been stretched to the bare bones after missing out on Sanchez in what was a disastrous situation, and as a result, it is vital that they are able to secure his signature this time around.
- Read More: Everton build ‘strong pressure’ for Juanlu Sanchez transfer after Premier League offer submitted
Juanlu Sanchez’s creative stats would be a huge upgrade on Jake O’Brien
O’Brien has done a commendable job for Everton on the right of the defence in recent years, but despite his best efforts, he limits the team’s creative threat on the right flank.
The 24-year-old looks every bit a centre-half who is playing out of position, and his creative stats are night and day when compared to Sanchez’s.
| Juanlu Sanchez | Stats | Jake O’Brien |
| 1.06 | xA | 0.2 |
| 2 | Big Chances Created | – |
| 0.5 | Key Passes per 90 | 0.3 |
| 0.8 | Successful Dribbles per 90 | 0.3 |
| 5.5 | Duels Won per 90 | 4.8 |
The Sevilla starlet has created more big chances than the Everton man, and is also significantly better when it comes to key passes, successful dribbles, and duels won.
Iliman Ndiaye is already terrorising defences on the right wing, and if Moyes and Co. could add an energetic and threatening full-back on that side, it would be a truly fearsome link-up for opponents to contend with.
It was nothing shiort of a disaster for Everton to fail to bring in a new right-back in the summer, and it will come back to bite them if they fail again in January.
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