OPINION
Everton must sign a left-back in January, and should have no excuses if one doesn’t arrive by the end of the month.
Sam Allardyce confessed that Everton are struggling to accquire a left-back in January, as there are few options available that fit the bill.
When asked about his hunt for a new left-sided defender, the Toffees boss was direct with his response on Friday.
“If you could find me one I suppose it would possibly be a position we would like to try and fill,” said Allardyce, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.
“There’s no doubt that Cuco (Martina) is doing a fantastic job and yet he, myself and everyone knows it’s not his strong position but at the moment we are finding it difficult to fill that position.
“So we do need a left footed player, not just at left-back, we probably need three left-footed players in the squad but we’re not going to get that this season.”
While the Toffees boss ruled out signing three left-footed players that they need this season; Allardyce needs to ensure that at the very least, he gets a left-back.
As it stands Leighton Baines is the only recognised left-back at the club, and the defender is currently sidelined with a calf injury.
This has left Martina, who is naturally a right-back, covering his absence in the first-team, which has at times led to the 28-year-old being the weak-link in the side.
If Everton don’t want to be exposed down the left-hand flank in the second-half of the season, then they simply must sign a replacement for Baines now.
There’s no excuses for why they shouldn’t have had a long-list of targets to consider, given the fact the left-back position has been an area that has needed strengthening for a while.
Ahead of Baines’ injury, the Toffees were no doubt aware that they needed to at least sign a defender capable of being cover for the 33-year-old.
The veteran left-back is nearing the end of his career and shouldn’t be relied on to play all of Everton’s fixtures.
The Toffees also should have been alert to the fact that they needed a new full-back after watching Baines play this season.
The 33-year-old made 20 appearances before suffering his injury in the 4-1 defeat to Southampton, and looked a shadow of his former self.
Baines would have been dropped at the time, if there was a replacement raring to go.
The loyal Everton servant, who has made 394 appearances for the club, looked incapable of keeping up with the pace of Premier League, suggesting that his legs had gone.
This means even when Baines returns to Everton’s first-team, the club will still need a better left-back if they’re serious about climbing the table.
It’s inconceivable that the Toffees might not sign a left-back in this window, as it means that they will struggle in the second-half of the season.