Amid a long-term injury to Seamus Coleman, Everton may well have found their own answer to Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold as their search for a new right-back steps up.
Everton have joined a plethora of reputable Premier League sides including West Ham, Spurs, Newcastle and Crystal Palace in identifying Rangers’ James Tavernier as a key target.
A record of 16 goals and 12 assists this season would be a formidable record for a promising striker – so for an experienced defender to have achieved such a feat is astronomically jaw-dropping.
It is for this reason that there is much cause for excitement after the Daily Mail has reported that English right-back James Tavernier is a target for the Toffees.
Indeed, the report from the Mail adds that there is much surprise that the offensively-minded right-back has not yet attracted significant interest from Premier League clubs.
Previous offers are said to have been ‘scarce’ or flat-out rejected by the Glasgow giants.
And given that club captain Coleman is 32 years old, it may well be prudent to sign up the prolific defender as the distinguished Irish international enters his twilight years in his playing career.
Indeed, in an era in which attacking fullbacks play a key role in many tactical configurations, it is possible that Tavernier could fit the mould of the Toffees’ rivals’ £99 million-rated right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
At just 22 years old, the Liverpool academy graduate has managed 8 goals and a staggering 38 assists as a defender.
Given Ancelotti’s recent switch to a 3-4-3 system, Tavernier could be a more natural option than the likes of Alex Iwobi in a major boost to the Toffees’ offensive prowess.
