Everton could be set to land a former Champions League and World Cup winner in the summer in the form of Thomas Muller, which may be a huge boost for usual goal-getter Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
In Calvert-Lewin, the Toffees already have one of the best strikers in the Premier League within their ranks when you look at goals scored over the last two seasons, with the striker netting 13 and 16 goals over his last two full campaigns respectively, but he might be able to get even more with an attacking presence behind him.
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Christian Falk has claimed that Everton are in the hunt for Bayern Munich attacker Muller, and with the German a superb goalscorer despite not being a striker, if he was to be deployed as perhaps a false nine and shadow Calvert-Lewin, that could take a lot of pressure off the England international and possibly create more chances for him.
So what could be in store for Everton if the German star made the move to Goodison?
Calvert-Lewin to get the perfect partner?
If Calvert-Lewin is wanting any player in world football to play just behind him, it would likely be someone like Muller, as he’s done so with Robert Lewandowski for years in Munich, racking up 224 goals and 238 assists since making his debut for the Bavarian side.
The attacker himself spoke on the Bundesliga’s YouTube channel about how now he has ‘less shooting actions’, which could be music to the ears of Calvert-Lewin if he knows someone like Muller would be more interested and involved in teeing him up rather than being greedy and looking for goal himself.
Muller also currently holds the record for most assists in a single Bundesliga season as well as the most assists in Bundesliga history, all while claiming himself that he’s getting ‘more touches‘ of the ball as he gets older, so if he was to arrive at Goodison Park, he’d bring a calmness to their play as well as a killer instinct to supply Calvert-Lewin as he has done for Lewandowski.
Muller to be Everton’s new leader?
There is no getting away from the fact that Everton are having a torrid season in the Premier League, with the Toffees currently languishing in 16th spot, just four points above the bottom three. Results such as the ones against newly-promoted Watford and Norwich City have highlighted a real lack of leadership and ability to navigate their way through tough games and occasions.
Michael Ball, who writes for the Liverpool Echo, claimed last month that Everton were in desperate need of some leaders on the pitch and someone who could shout and hold others accountable when required, while also being able to lead slight tactical tweaks in-game.
That sounds like Muller down to a T, with the midfielder being nicknamed ‘Radio Muller‘ because of the way he organises his teammates and directs them while on the pitch – something that could be of huge importance to the Toffees. Especially with midfield legend Frank Lampard now at the helm, Muller could very easily get across certain aspects of the game, having been a world-class player himself.
If Everton are to avoid becoming perennial relegation battlers, they may need big leaders both on and off the pitch, so bringing in someone like Muller, who’s achieved so much throughout his career and is still trusted at the top level – having started the most games out of anyone this season in the Bayern squad – could go a long way to getting the Toffees back challenging for Europe.
In other news: Ben Godfrey drops promising injury message on Instagram