The Liverpool Echo reporter Sam Carroll has claimed that Everton may be reluctant to sign players during the January transfer window.
During the summer transfer window, the Toffees sealed the arrival of six players, five of which were permanent (per Transfermarkt).
For the five players that were brought in on permanent deals, Carlo Ancelotti’s outfit forked out £67.38m.
In terms of outgoings, only two players were sold for transfer fees, and those amounted to just £3.98m.
During the latest episode of the Liverpool Echo’s Royal Blue: The Everton FC Podcast, Carroll discussed the January transfer window and aired that the club may be reluctant to sign anyone.
He said: “I think the last two major January signings [were Cenk] Tosun and [Theo] Walcott – and both of them are at the club in some capacity but for the money we’ve spent, [we] probably haven’t got our money’s worth.
“So, it’s a dangerous market, isn’t it? I think, ideally, Marcel Brands probably wouldn’t want to do it, but it’s also a market of opportunity, isn’t it?
“It’s not to say it’s impossible to do business in January. I even remember last season, obviously on a smaller scale, West Ham bringing in [Tomas] Soucek and he turned their season [around].
“There are chances out there and possibilities, and especially when you’ve got the contact book of a manager like Carlo Ancelotti and Marcel Brands as well.”
TIF Thoughts on what Sam Carroll said about the January transfer window…
As can be seen in what the reporter had to say, he believes that Everton director of football Marcel Brands “probably wouldn’t want” to sign anyone in January but there is still scope to do so.
In which area of the field should Everton target January transfer signings?
Goalkeeper
Defence
Midfield
Attack
Looking at Everton’s squad, the one position which would appear to be in major need of recruitment is the right-wing spot, as Ancelotti has no out-and-out player in that position at his disposal, despite having a raft of left-wingers as well as often playing a 4-3-3 formation (per Transfermarkt).
While James Rodriguez has played the majority of the season on the right and performed well (per WhoScored), he is naturally an attacking midfielder.
The Toffees have as many as six players who are capable of filling in in that position, however, none are natural to the right wing.
So, perhaps it would be prudent for Ancelotti and Brands to target that area of the pitch during the winter transfer window.