Everton, quite clearly, need a new right-back.
However, it cannot be a quick fix, and after years of trying to find a solution, a long-term strategy must be enacted before they fritter even more money away on one position.
Seamus Coleman is ageing and always injured, and Ashley Young can no longer be trusted, at 39 years old.
And, with Nathan Patterson wildly unfavored, it’s really tough to predict how Sean Dyche and Kevin Thelwell might tackle this problem after so many mistakes in the past.
Trusting in youth represents a short-term fix, but they will want someone to make the spot their own.
That would explain their latest move.
Everton enquire to sign Gonzalo Montiel
The latest on Everton’s efforts to snag a new right-back comes courtesy of Spanish outlet ABC Diallo, who suggest that the Toffees could seek to push ahead of Nottingham Forest in the race for Gonzalo Montiel.
The £23k-a-week Argentine spent last season on loan at the City Ground, allowed to leave from Sevilla, and it seems once again the Spanish club are willing to sanction his exit.
However, Nuno Espirito Santo will face competition from Dyche and Thelwell, as the report reads: ‘However, they [Forest] are not the only team in the English league interested in the Sevilla player.
‘Sources from the player’s entourage confirm to ABC of Seville that Everton have asked about the situation of the Argentine defender. The English side are urged to do some last-minute reinforcement after chaining two humiliating defeats in their Premier League.’
Should Everton trust in Roman Dixon to fix their right-back problem?
After making his senior debut, thrown to the wolves at Tottenham Hotspur, Roman Dixon actually held his own quite admirably in one of the toughest places to start his Premier League career.
The 19-year-old, who many fans had called to be handed a start, was still a surprise inclusion in Saturday’s heavy defeat.
And yet, despite little moments of inexperience, he performed well against a tricky quartet on his flank.
After all, not only did he have to deal with Wilson Odobert all match, who he kept largely quiet, but he also had to contain the likes of James Maddison, Destiny Udogie and Heung-min Son, who naturally drifted out wide as well.
A supremely fast athlete, Dixon certainly competed on that front, but perhaps at times lacked the insight as to when to push up, sit back, commit a foul or bomb forward.
But, he will learn, and it would be so refreshing for the Toffees to be able to watch his development at right-back, a position that has troubled them for so long.
Dyche did praise Dixon too, which must count for something.
Alas, it’s hard to imagine he will stick around, with Young, Seamus, Patterson and James Garner all to return eventually. But, it’d be nice to see youth trusted in the long run, instead of just to plug gaps for one game.
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