Host Ian Croll was joined by Ben Crawford and Connor Bennett for the latest edition of Everton podcast View From The Gwladys Street and they spent some time talking about January transfer business that the Merseyside club could potentially conduct during the show.
On the topic of January transfer business, Crawford called for Everton to pursue the signature of 23-year-old Bournemouth right-winger David Brooks.
So far this term, he has made seven Championship appearances for the Cherries, scoring two goals and providing three assists, helping Jason Tindall’s side to position themselves in second place on the Championship table 13 games into the 2020/21 campaign.
Here is what Crawford had to say about the £16.2m-rated man during this recent edition of the View From The Gwladys Street podcast:
“I know we’ve always alluded to this sort of left-footed right-winger that we’ve mysteriously always been after and longing for, but obviously James [Rodriguez] has come in. I would like to see him play a little bit more centrally and I think if something happens to him injury or suspension-wise, we’re very, very light on that right-hand side, of players who naturally play there.
“I would love us to go out there and get a really top right-winger, because then you’re just looking at our attacking options and you just think no matter who we lose, even if it is Richarlison, we can fit [someone] straight in and we’ve got a world-class front three or four.
“David Brooks is the right-winger of Bournemouth, he’s left-footed – he looks like he’s ready to come back to the Premier League – I’d really like to see us go for someone like him – just someone a bit more exciting.”
Would Brooks be a good signing for Everton?
YES
NO
TIF Thoughts on what Crawford had to say about Brooks…
Brooks was sidelined for the majority of last season as he was recovering from ankle surgery, which is why he made just nine appearances in the top-flight for the Cherries last term.
In the 2018/19 campaign – Brooks’ first in the Premier League after Bournemouth signed him from Sheffield United in the summer of 2018 for £10.17m – the winger made a more positive impression, as he scored seven goals and provided five assists in 30 Premier League appearances, ending that campaign as Bournemouth’s joint-third-highest goalscorer and third-highest assist provider in the league.
As a result, it may be fair to say that Brooks has shown plenty of ability in the top-flight in the past and so, perhaps he wouldn’t be a bad transfer target for Everton based on his ability.
However, while the Toffees require a natural right-wing option, knowing how much time Brooks spent on the sidelines last season and knowing that he was also sidelined due to injury for some time earlier on in the 2020/21 campaign, perhaps there would be some risk involved with pursuing the Wales international’s signature in January and as a result, maybe it wouldn’t be a good idea for Everton to sign Brooks until he proves that he can remain fit for a sustained period of time.