Speaking recently on the Football Writers Podcast, Michael Calvin, Richard Amofa and Miguel Delaney discussed some of the biggest talking points in English football at present, and in particular, the potential of Everton offloading Alex Iwobi before the end of the summer transfer window.
Iwobi joined Everton from Arsenal in August 2019, in what was a £27.36 million deal, and has since gone on to feature 30 times for the club, scoring two goals and providing one assist.
25 of these appearances came in the Premier League last season, over which the winger scored one goal, provided no assists and averaged a slightly disappointing WhoScored match rating of 6.56 – ranking him as the club’s joint 12th-best performer in the league.
So far this term, the £22.95 million-rated 24-year-old has featured just once in Everton’s three games played thus far – a 19-minute cameo from the bench in their 5-2 win against West Bromwich Albion, which saw him earn a 5.97 WhoScored match rating.
From comments made when speaking on a recent episode of the Football Writers Podcast, it would seem as if Amofa is of the belief that Everton could look to move the Nigeria international on prior to the summer transfer window closing in October, as he feels the winger has “underwhelmed” at the Toffees.
However, the journalist did state that he thinks Iwobi could “do a job” for a “bottom-half club,” and mentions West Ham United as a potential suitor for the winger.
He said: “It’s been difficult for clubs to get rid of their ‘deadwood’, just purely [because of the] financial implications [of the global pandemic]. I do feel teams will be looking to get rid of this profile of player, and Everton do have a lot of players within that category.
“Looking at the likes of Iwobi – he has underwhelmed there, but I think he could do a job for a bottom-half club, perhaps, because I think his game is based on confidence, and once he’s playing week in, week out, I think that he can do well for a club, maybe a West Ham, for example.”
Would you be happy to see Iwobi moved on before the end of the transfer window?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts…
From Amofa’s comments, it would certainly appear as if the journalist believes that Iwobi has not overly impressed at Everton, although, that he could still play an important role for a team in the lower half of the Premier League table, with Amofa suggesting David Moyes’ side as a possible destination for the 24-year-old.
With around a couple of weeks remaining of the transfer window, we will have to keep an eye on whether there is any movement regarding Iwobi, but, after making just one substitute appearance over Everton’s three games played so far this season, should the winger wish to play a great deal of first-team football this term, it is our opinion that it may well be worth him considering a move away from the club.