Nevin says Everton are one step away from being “excellent” – Is he right?

Former Everton winger Pat Nevin believes that the Toffees are “a centre-back away” from challenging the Top Six.

The Toffees’ failure to sign a centre-back to replace Kurt Zouma has been well publicised, and a number of football pundits have claimed that the club simply don’t have the depth in that position to succeed this season.

With just Michael Keane, Mason Holgate and Yerry Mina as the senior defensive options on Merseyside, the club are just one major injury away from finding themselves in a tough situation.

While Nevin agrees that the club are light in that area of the field, the former Scotland international (who played for the Toffees between 1988 and 1992) believes that the club are on the cusp of breaking through the glass ceiling of the Premier League’s elite.

Talking to the Racing Post, Nevin said:

Everton are a centre-back away from being excellent.

I liked what I saw of Wolves when I watched them on TV and I liked them even more when I saw them live, when you get a chance to study them closely. I don’t see any issues with this being their second season.

But Everton, with some consistency, can bridge the gaps. There were times last season when they played opponents off the park, other times they were horrible.

If I was Marco Silva I’d be scouring the Italian top division for a centre-back who can come in and offer that authority they need at the back. Fabian Delph is a good signing, alongside Andre Gomes.

Read Everton Verdict

While I have an awful lot of respect for Nevin’s opinion, and I like very much what he has to say about the Toffees, I just don’t think Everton are quite that close to making a breakthrough.

I will accept that the Blues have the tools necessary to make an attempt at breaking through, and with Leicester winning the Premier League title it is safe to say that stranger things have happened, but I think Everton are more than just a centre-back away.

In a number of positions the club are just an injury or two away from a crisis, and while the starting eleven is strong, there just isn’t enough depth across the board. Without trying to sound overly negative, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Everton have another season of highs and lows, still trying to find their footing.

But I see marked improvement in the transfer market. I see a vision coming to be realised under Marco Silva and Marcel Brands, and I trust that the duo know what they are doing.

I’m simply just anxious to say that Everton are one step away.