Everton handed timely boost as Amadou Onana transfer news emerges
In order to make up for their 10-point deficit, the Toffees defeated Burnley, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, and Chelsea.
However, they have since fallen short against Wolves, Tottenham, and Manchester City, plunging back into the relegation zone.
Sean Dyche and his players now have it all to do in the coming months, with their short-term future made more difficult after the loss of Idrissa Gueye. The midfield ace has left Merseyside to represent Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations, meaning the likes of Amadou Onana and James Garner have key roles to play this month. The Toffees could have been handed a huge blow in this regard with the potential departure of Onana this month, but fans of the club can now relax after the latest update from
The news outlet reported on its website on Saturday (13 January) that Premier League rivals Arsenal would rather sign Aston Villa ace Douglas Luiz than Everton man Onana. Dyche cannot afford to have his current group unsettled at this key stage of the season, and he certainly cannot afford to lose a player as key as Onana. The Belgian international, who is capable of playing in both defensive and central midfield, has made 21 appearances in all competitions this season for his club.
If he was to leave Goodison Park, a summer exit would be a much more suitable outcome for Everton and their manager. One silver lining would undoubtedly be the fee that the Toffees could collect for the 22-year-old, particularly if it was indeed Arsenal who showed the strongest intent to sign him.
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Unai Emery has performed incredible feats in Birmingham, transforming a team that Steven Gerrard was leading to relegation into a title contender for no apparent reason.
After all, they have recently recorded strong wins over both Manchester City and Arsenal, and they are only three points outside of the top spot.
Well, Sean Dyche will be keen to ensure they are not added to that sprawling list, and will have to do all he can to mitigate the various threats their visitors pose.
Andre Gomes is a great option to partner Amadou Onana, and he could make the very bold tactical switch of trading James Garner for a midfielder who is more likely to dictate the game, perhaps in an attempt to gain more control in the engine room.
Just one year after joining Everton for £15 million, Garner has developed into a vital member of the team, but even with his excellent play, the 22-year-old still has a lot of growth ahead of him.
His teammate Gomes, who turned 30 in the summer, has returned from injury with such force in recent weeks that he most certainly deserves to start in the Premier League.
The former Barcelona star shone against Tottenham Hotspur, controlling the game and even halving the deficit with a thunderous finish. The Portuguese maestro entered the game with just 11 minutes remaining in regulation time.
When he’s playing well, he’s unstoppable, and he and Onana could form a great tandem that rivals that of John McGinn and Douglas Luiz.
