Why Sean Dyche must avoid avoid making another costly Everton transfer error

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Under this new management, Everton have certainly made great strides forward at last.

After so many years of regression and frustration, it felt good, especially at the start of the festive period, to enjoy such an unprecedented run of form in which the Toffees were seldom beaten.

In fact, following their 3-1 win over Brentford back in September, up until they recently faced Fulham in the EFL Cup, Sean Dyche’s men had enjoyed a run in which they lost just three in 14 games, winning ten of those fixtures.

Earning such success has clearly convinced Kevin Thelwell that this January could be one allowed to be bypassed in order to regain some kind of financial parity, yet rumours still remain that suggest Everton could be tempted by potential coups.

Hannibal Mejbri on loan is one such example, whilst another has suggested that the Toffees might be the latest English club to try and get a tune out of Jesse Lingard once again.

However, in handing a lucrative contract to an ageing Englishman with little incentive to rekindle a damaged career, Dyche could be set to repeat the mistakes already made with Ashley Young this season.

How has Ashley Young played this season?

Although acquiring the 38-year-old on a free transfer marked seemingly intelligent business at the time, the frequency with which the ageing dud has been called upon has seen that success dwindle with speed.

After all, it has frustrated fans to see the former Manchester United man occupy the right-back slot ahead of Nathan Patterson, as a young star who actually boasts a future at the club.

Young’s lack of speed and rashness has hindered his performances on numerous occasions already too, with the defender having committed one penalty, made two errors leading to a goal and been sent off in the Merseyside derby, via Sofascore.

Although Lingard would likely not represent such a defensive liability, he would still command a large wage given the offered contract would not be a long-term one.

As such, he would be take up precious funds, without the guarantee that he could perform to the level of Abdoulaye Doucoure, who occupies his favoured role.

After all, Nottingham Forest would hand the attacker a mouth-watering £80k-per-week deal last season, only to see the 31-year-old fail to score or assist in the Premier League.

He may have been a ‘difference maker‘ in the past, in the eyes of podcaster Dan Woffenden, but that is in the past now.

It makes absolutely zero sense for Dyche to once again scour the free agents market with such disregard for how expensive wages can be, and if Young is anything to go by, Lingard must too be avoided now.