As the Premier League clubs prepare to lambast the transfer market with millions and millions of pounds to get the right players for the upcoming season, it is more than likely Everton manager David Moyes will be working with limited funds once again, but there is one player that could push his team to the next level, and he is available for free. Having made an attempt to sign him in January, Moyes may well be tempted to make another effort this summer.
21- year-old Canadian, David “Junior” Hoilett, could be snapped up for nothing this summer when his contract is set to expire, and despite Blackburn Rovers having a poor season which saw them relegated to the Championship, he managed to grab nine goals and be one of a few players to gain any credit at Rovers.
He is quick, can take players on, and also has a sharp eye for goal. In a Blackburn side that found it hard to create and take chances, Hoilett was a player in form for Rovers and scored some cracking goals this season, including a memorable strike against Norwich City from 35 yards and making a name for himself in England.
With all the transfer talk of where Eden Hazard, Luka Modric and Robin Van Persie will be moving to this summer, Hoilett could prove to be a bargain for any club this summer. He is a versatile player who can operate on the wing, behind a striker and can also play as a forward which is something that any club would love to have.
It is no secret that Moyes has done a terrific job at Everton with a fairly limited transfer budget and wage structure in place, losing the likes of Wayne Rooney and Mikel Arteta to bigger clubs, but not having the financial muscle to replace such players.
As a result, the lack of funds for Moyes forced him into a number of loan signings this season. Royston Drenthe joined from Real Madrid, former Toffee’s player Steven Pienaar joined from Tottenham Hotspur and Argentinean striker Dennis Stracqualursi joined from Tigres. However, all three could return to their current clubs and leave a huge gap to fill for the upcoming season.
Stracqualursi only managed three goals in 28 appearances, while Drenthe and Pienaar have netted four times each. Drenthe is out of contract in the summer but unlikely to return to Everton after he was disciplined by the club late on in the season, while Pienaar could make his move permanent but Everton will have to grapple with Spurs over a transfer fee which could prove a stumbling block.
However, if Everton move quickly they could catch rival teams off guard and get a very young, exciting player in Hoilett, who could fill the gap on the wings and could also play behind Nikica Jelavic or alongside him.
Current Blackburn boss Steve Kean is trying a last ditch bid to keep him at Ewood Park, but it looks a foregone conclusion that his future lies away from Blackburn. Would he rather go to Old Trafford or Oakwell? No disrespect intended to Barnsley fans, but given the choice, it’s a no brainer, he is as good as gone.
Clubs across Europe are also being linked with him, and the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are credited with some interest. The Hoilett family are likely to have a busy summer. His dad, who is also called David, is his agent and will be weighing up a number of offers for his talented son who should be playing in a top league.
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