Everton line up new right-back signing for January as David Moyes eyes European bid
Everton want to sign a new right-back in the January transfer window amid plans for James Garner moving forward.
The Toffees midfielder has filled in at the full-back position this season, along with regular stand-in, centre-back Jake O’Brien.
Everton haven’t got a single minute out of Nathan Patterson this term thanks to injury, while 37-year-old club captain Seamus Coleman went off hurt after just 10 minutes in his only start against Man United last month.
After Everton beat Nottingham Forest 3-0, off the back of a 1-0 win at Bournemouth they are flying high in seventh and David Moyes is looking to make a push for Europe, with winter reinforcements potentially key.
Everton want Garner in midfield only
According to a new update from BBC Sport the Toffees are looking to address the right-back situation in the New Year, but will only move for the “perfect” option. Otherwise they are willing to stick with their makeshift options until the summer.
Botafogo’s Vitinho is named as a linked target for the January window, with Everton reportedly wanting to keep Garner exclusively in his natural midfield role.
The Englishman has been in excellent form and there is said to be a “keenness” to keep him where he is best suited.
On the potential for European qualification Moyes has said: “This club should be challenging for Europe or be in Europe. But I think people need to give us time and understand how bad it’s been in the past few years. I’m going for it and so are the players. Our aim is to try to do that. The players know that.”
Patterson must leave Everton
If a right-back is coming in at some point over the next two windows it surely makes the inevitable a priority for Patterson, in terms of an exit from the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The former Rangers man has had a nightmare time with injury but has been unable to properly convince a succession of Toffees managers that he is the man to lock down the right-back spot long term.
In almost four years at the club the 24-year-old has only made 59 total appearances, with the number reducing year on year since two seasons ago.
A return to Ibrox has been mooted in the past and might ultimately make sense with James Tavernier gradually being phased out but Everton might struggle to make their money back on a player they spent £12million on up front, rising to £16m.
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