Graeme Bailey has suggested Everton could make another centre-back signing in January with Jake O’Brien struggling to get game under Sean Dyche.
The defender was signed for around £17million from Lyon in the summer [Alan Myers, 29 July] to bolster their backline and provide competition to Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski.
However, O’Brien has featured for just 26 minutes in the Premier League this term despite Branthwaite’s injury troubles, with Michael Keane deputising alongside Tarkowski.
As such, Bailey hinted that the Toffees might look to bring in another defender in the winter window.
“I think that some in the club are still wondering why Jake O’Brien is not getting a chance. If we don’t see him before January do they look at another centre-half? I wouldn’t rule it out,” he said to Everton News (10 October).
“Defence will be the main thing”.
Everton could do with a defensive transfer in January
It has been a surprise to see O’Brien be so under utilised this season, especially with most supporters clamouring for his inclusion over Keane, who has come under fire at times this term.
The Toffees only have one top-flight win to their name this season, coming against Crystal Palace on September 28, with defensive worries when Branthwaite hasn’t played coming to the fore.
Although some of Everton’s summer signings such as Tim Iroegbunam and Iliman Ndiaye have starred for the team this term, O’Brien’s season hasn’t gone as he’d have wanted it to.
Branthwaite has been sidelined for most of the season due to injury and, although he returned against the Eagles, he’s once again been sidelined after getting yet another setback.
Tarkowski has found himself in decent form this term but Keane has certainly been identified as a weak link when he’s played.
If Dyche isn’t going to use O’Brien to help ease his defensive woes, the only thing that makes sense is for them to go after a defender in January because Keane has not been able to ably step up this term.
In other Everton news, Asmir Begovic has responded to how the Toffees have responded to the Dan Friedkin takeover.
