Merlin Rohl deserves more chances as Everton internal belief emerges
Everton believe that Merlin Rohl will be better in his second season in English football.
The German midfielder has been an outcast, making 13 appearances in all competitions, for a total of just 444 minutes, with injuries and a lack of trust from David Moyes playing a part.
The Toffees are locked into a £17million deal for the midfielder, as they ensured survival in the Premier League.
A report from the i Paper on 30 April claimed that Everton sources are confident that the Germany Under-21 star will kick on and come good.
Rohl's time at Everton so far has not seen many opportunities, but the numbers suggest that an improvement could be on the cards in the next campaign.
How has Rohl performed this season for Everton?
Rohl has featured 12 times in the Premier League for Everton, and he has shown glimpses of what he can do.
He has averaged 0.4 key passes, 6.8 total passes per game and 0.6 total shots, according to data from Sofascore.
Rohl makes 1.7 ball recoveries and 1.5 tackles per 90 minutes, showing that he is willing to try and win the ball back when he is on the pitch.
| Rohl's stats this season | Premier League |
| Key passes | 0.4 |
| Total shots | 0.6 |
| Ball recoveries p90 | 1.7 |
| Tackles p90 | 1.5 |
| Ground duels won | 44% |
| Aerial duels won | 48% |
One area that he needs to improve is duels, as he wins just 44 per cent on the ground and 48 per cent in the air.
It is unfair to judge him as he has only started twice, but the stats are encouraging and imply that a better impact can be had in the second season.
Why Rohl needs to be involved more next season
Rohl has been dealt difficult circumstances in his first campaign with the Blues, and it is definitely not ideal for a young player.
However, he still seems to be in good spirits, despite the lack of playing time, regularly posting about his situation on Instagram.
That attitude should serve him well and impress Moyes as he looks to refine his squad for the new campaign.
There is definitely a player there, the data shows that, whether the Toffees can unlock it, remains to be seen.
The Friedkin Group need Rohl to be a success on Merseyside as they can't afford to keep spending money on project signings.