Tim Iroegbunam’s Everton future set in stone after Manchester City masterclass
Tim Iroegbunam proved that he should remain at Everton in the 3-3 draw with Manchester City on Monday.
David Moyes drafted the young midfielder into the side after Idrissa Gueye was ruled out with injury, and he did not disappoint with a masterclass showing.
The Blues could not hold on to their two-goal lead at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on 4 May, but the 22-year-old was superb.
He was linked with a transfer to Serie A in the winter transfer window, but his future should be set in stone after the result against Pep Guardiola’s side.
Everton need him to stay put rather than depart, as he is a valuable squad player.
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How did Iroegbunam perform in Everton vs Manchester City?
Iroegbunam has found starting opportunities difficult at Everton this season, making just 14 starts in his 32 Premier League appearances.
However, he proved himself in the clash with the title chasers, as he was immense and a huge reason why the Toffees had a chance to win, and the stats prove it.
According to data from Sofascore, he completed just 63 per cent of his passes, but that does not tell the full story.
The young midfielder took 39 touches but lost the ball only 11 times, and made four carries for a total distance of 72.3m.
| Iroegbunam’s stats vs Man City | |
| Pass accuracy | 63% |
| Touches (Lost possession) | 39(11) |
| Carries (Distance) | 4(72.3m) |
| Interceptions/Clearances | 1/1 |
| Recoveries | 2 |
| Tackles (Won) | 6(2) |
| Ground duels won | 8/12(66%) |
Defensively, he really stood out, making one interception, one clearance, one block, two recoveries and attempting six tackles, two of which were successful.
In terms of duels, he won eight of the 12 that he attempted on the ground, for a success rate of 66 per cent.
Why is Iroegbunam’s future so pressing?
Iroegbunam’s contract runs out in the summer of 2027, so the Toffees need to make a decision on his future, sooner rather than later, to stop him being poached on a free transfer.
If he continues to perform the way that he did against City, it will be an easy decision, he must stick around and be a part of the upward curve on Merseyside.
He may well have matured and be ready to take a step forward into playing a more important role for Moyes’ side next season, which would certainly ease some squad concerns in L3.
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