Everton fans are anticipating little movement in this January transfer window, having finally been communicated with in a way that has tempered expectations in an orderly fashion.
Kevin Thelwell, who has seldom put a foot wrong since his 2022 appointment at the club, was forthright in his divulgence to the fanbase.
He admitted that the missteps of the past continue to hinder them today, and that it would still take time before they were fully healed. As such, buoyed by the progress Sean Dyche has made on the pitch, they can almost afford to leave the current squad as it is knowing that staying afloat would be enough to mark a success for this campaign.
However, that’s not to suggest that the former Wolverhampton Wanderers sporting director will not be busy this month, with his work in attempting to snag a coup or two arguably more important than ever.
This has been outlined through his recent attempt to pry Hannibal Mejbri from Manchester United on loan, and now through the Toffees’ interest in Fulham midfielder Harrison Reed.
Journalist Paul Brown would outline this shocking revelation, telling GIVEMESPORT: ‘I’ve heard links between Everton and Reed before. I do think he is a player that they really like. I can remember, not so long ago.
‘Marco Silva talking him up as a potential England international. He was saying that he was very surprised he hadn’t been called up. I actually think that it is a strange one right now, in terms of timing, because Everton have got their midfield sorted out at the moment.
‘I think the balance is quite good there, but someone like Reed would come in expecting to start every week. He might not get that opportunity in the way that Dyche likes to set up.’
Would Harrison Reed be a good signing for Everton?
Although perhaps an unexciting signing on the surface, Reed would actually mark a fine option for Dyche to utilise given the struggles he has often felt in the engine room this campaign.
Despite it being arguably his strongest position for depth, with James Garner, Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Andre Gomes all vying for the two deeper roles, injuries and suspensions have often left him hamstrung.
That would be where Reed’s ever-presence would come in handy, as the stable 28-year-old has been available for every Premier League game this campaign and featured in 37 out of the 38 from last term.
This season has been an indifferent one for the £50k-per-week battler though, with highs and lows giving way to his side’s admirable 13th-placed position in the table.
However, posting an 88% pass accuracy and managing 2.5 ball recoveries per game in the league is enough to paint the picture of a stable metronome who could thrive as an alternative option to Onana, via Sofascore.
After all, no player in the Everton team can boast such consistency in their pass accuracy this campaign.
Although unlikely to have fans enthralled by his capture, were it to be for a shrewd price, Reed would mark a fine addition at Goodison Park.
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox
