The key Jake O'Brien difference Everton would see from Brooke Norton-Cuffy

Everton may finally have found their Brooke Norton-Cuffy-sized answer to fix their right-back problem.

Arguably Everton's most pressing need ahead of this summer's transfer window, right-back has been an issue for the Toffees for some time now.

David Moyes' side were still able to concede an average of just 1.3 goals per game in the Premier League last season though, and so it perhaps wasn't the Achilles heel that it had the potential to be.

However, with Nathan Patterson out of favour with Moyes and centre-back by trade Jake O'Brien blowing hot and cold, Everton do need more quality there if they are to improve moving forward.

Cuffy's name has been widely linked with a move to Hill Dickinson Stadium this summer, having enjoyed an impressive 2025-26 season in Serie A with Genoa.

But there is one trait in particular to the Englishman's game that would really help to elevate Everton's threat posed from the right-back spot if he was to sign.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy speciality is Jake O'Brien weakness

Goodison News has covered recent reports suggesting that Genoa could be holding out for £17million for Norton-Cuffy.

For a 22-year-old defender who looks to be an ascending talent, that sort of fee could be a very wise investment for the Toffees to make.

Capable of playing as advanced down the right flank as his manager wishes him to be, the former Arsenal academy talent would carry more of an attacking presence than O'Brien does.

That's evidenced in his underlying numbers in Serie A too, and in one key area in particular.

As per FotMob, Norton-Cuffy completed 32 successful dribbles in 27 Serie A games last season, which ranked him in the top 3.2 percentile of players in his position in Italy's top division.

Meanwhile, O'Brien completed just six in 37 Premier League outings last term, which placed him in the bottom 39.3 per cent of English top-flight right-backs respectively.

In addition to his evident ball-carrying ability, Norton-Cuffy averaged 0.45 shots per game compared to O'Brien's 0.29 in 2025-26, as well as winning 1.26 tackles per 90 opposed to the Irishman's 0.92 respectively.

As aforementioned, Norton-Cuffy is a very versatile player, but how he's primarily been utilised at Genoa may suggest Moyes need to have a formation rethink at Everton.

Genoa's system and Norton-Cuffy role doesn't suit Everton

At the start of the 2025-26 season, Genoa were largely being deployed in a back four under Patrick Vieira.

However, upon Daniele De Rossi's arrival as their new manager at matchday 11 of the Serie A season, the Roma legend shifted them towards almost exclusively setting up with three at the back.

This meant that Norton-Cuffy was getting pushed on to play as a wing-back/right midfielder depending on the specific formation and in-game situation.

As detailed via Transfermarkt, Norton-Cuffy has actually only played at right-back 11 times for Genoa across his 43 competitive appearances for them, with 25 of those being as a right midfielder respectively.

So, whilst he absolutely could play as a traditional right-back in a back four, Everton may not get the best out of him that way, and whether or not Moyes would be willing to change to a back three would be another issue.

It's a deal that Everton should definitely explore, but one that could come with some question marks over how he fits in Moyes' Toffees tactics.