It’s all systems go for Rafa Benitez and Everton this transfer window. After a disappointing start to the first half of 2021-22, the Toffees have found themselves in a sticky situation. Languishing in 15th in the Premier League after 18 games, the supporters at Goodison Park are frustrated and fresh blood is needed in the blue half of Merseyside.
Many fans were not best pleased with the arrival of former Liverpool boss Benitez in the summer, and the side’s current failings in the top-flight will have increased the pressure on the Spanish manager. But in a bid to turn Everton’s fortunes around for the second half of the campaign, Benitez and the board have acted quickly to prepare reinforcements this month.
The Toffees have already added a new left-back to their ranks with Vitaly Mykolenko arriving on New Year’s Day, which appears to have marked the end of Frenchman Lucas Digne’s time at the club. He has not featured in any of Everton’s last five league fixtures and rumours have been surfacing that he and Benitez have had an intense falling out and he could leave as early as this month. Regardless of that situation, Everton have acted quickly to make deals as quickly as possible in the hopes of getting their new player to gel with the squad sooner rather than later.
Mykolenko’s signing looks increasingly likely to be swiftly followed by right-back Nathan Patterson from Rangers. He is reportedly making his way down from Glasgow for his medical and the deal should not take too long to complete. This particular signing should excite the Toffees supporters in many ways. Not only are they expecting to sign a highly-rated Scottish international, but they are finally bringing someone in to ease the burden from, and subsequently replace, the long-serving captain Seamus Coleman.
The veteran Republic of Ireland defender, 33, has been let down in recent years by the club’s unwillingness to provide him with healthy competition. Coleman has been a brilliant servant to Everton for over a decade and due to his ageing legs and return from serious injury, his great service is perhaps being overlooked by his personal struggles at the highest level in recent seasons but it is the club who are responsible.
Coleman will be equally as delighted as the fans at the arrival of Patterson. It will not only add some squad depth but provide the club captain some much-needed rest which would help him offer more for the Toffees when he is called to action. With him being in his latter years, his body simply cannot deliver like it could and he would be of more benefit to Benitez as a leader in the dressing room and as a well-rested stand-in for the young and energetic Patterson.
The stalwart defender has been a brilliant Premier League right-back over the years, and his £60,000 fee has been a bargain to say the least. He hasn’t deserved to have his legacy at Everton tarnished by the club’s reluctance to find him a successor. And hopefully, Patterson can live up to the billing. He does of course have huge boots to fill.
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