Everton may have just been hit with a major blow to their hopes of signing one of their dream January targets.
After the display at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, it will be no surprise to see David Moyes consider defensive reinforcements.
There is still a lot of room for improvement at Everton despite the considerable changes made over the last 12 months under the Friedkins.
Fortunately, Moyes claims Everton’s owners are backing them in the January market as they eye further development on Merseyside.
The areas for improvement are clear as Everton’s frailties at full-back, among other positions, were there for all to see on Sunday.
However, an update from Fabrizio Romano now surely means one Everton transfer is off the cards following a development elsewhere.
Everton will have to forget Nathan Ake transfer after Fabrizio Romano update
Nathan Ake has been urged to find more minutes ahead of the World Cup by Ronald Koeman following previous Everton interest.
Over the summer, Everton were keen to sign Ake from Manchester City, but the Dutchman remained at the Etihad Stadium.
Now, it looks like any possible move for Ake in January has just been prevented, with BBC Sport sharing an update on City’s Josko Gvardiol.
Who are you taking at left-back, Nathan Ake or Vitaliy Mykolenko? 🤔
Moyes could surely revive his career like Jack Grealish's…
The Croatian broke his shinbone during the game against Chelsea at the weekend and will now undergo surgery.
This will now surely require Pep Guardiola to keep Ake at the club having lost his starting left-back.
Everton are in talks with Vitaliy Mykolenko over a new deal as his current contract is set to expire over the summer.
However, recent weeks have shown that the Ukrainian can still be improved on as the Blues look to qualify for European football.
Ake could be an option for Everton in the summer
The January transfer window is yet to get going on Merseyside as Everton are almost a week into the market without any deals being made.
Angus Kinnear has opened the door to Everton signings, but the club are only looking to make moves if they are convinced about the player.
Vitaliy Mykolenko’s contract expires in the summer, what should Everton do with him? 🤔
Offer him a new deal? Let him go for free? Sell him in January?
Ake is a player who could certainly offer Everton the experience of playing at Europe’s top table in the left-back position.
Everton are keen to address their right-back options this month, with a potential feeling that a left-back could be addressed in the summer.
The question then turns to whether Everton should be targeting a younger option at left-back as Ake is set to turn 31 next month.
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