Why Everton must continue in their pursuit of Tosin Adarabioyo
According to Sunday Mirror (h/t Daily Express), Everton are weighing up a swoop for Manchester City defender Tosin Adarabioyo.
The report also suggests that Everton consider the 22-year-old Adarabioyo as an alternative to their other three priority centre-back targets which include Kurt Zouma, Tyrone Mings, and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Meanwhile, Adarabioyo, a Manchester City academy graduate, has spent most of his time at the Etihad on loan after failing to break into the first-team line-up. The presence of established centre-backs such as Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte had seen the young defender fall down the pecking order under Pep Guardiola.
Now with the arrival of recent signing Nathan Ake, it seems like first-team opportunities will be very limited for Adarabioyo. To date, he has featured just eight times for City, with his last performance for them coming in the Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Leicester City back in December 2017.
Nevertheless, he impressed on loan with Blackburn Rovers this season, keeping eight clean sheets in 34 Championship matches. He also scored three goals in the process.
He also has 63 Championship games under his belt, having appeared for West Brom in the season prior to this, suggesting that he is nothing short of experience. With the youngster’s performances improving with time, it is not a big surprise that he has now come under the radar of Everton.
Adarabioyo a cheaper option at the back for Everton
Meanwhile, the Toffees have endured a difficult campaign this term that has seen them slip to 12th place in the rankings. Though Italian boss Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival has stabilised their performances, defence remains a major concern for the side after conceding as many as 56 goals from 38 league games this season.
With the Toffees defensive woes out in the open, Ancelotti is keen to bring in reinforcements, and Adarabioyo’s arrival seems like a welcoming sign. Moreover, he is a cheaper option compared to the likes of Zouma, Mings and Magalhaes on how Everton will definitely have to splash more cash.
Apart from young centre-back Mason Holgate, established defenders Michael Keane and Yerry Mina have been far from impressive this season and it has been evident in the side’s performances. Hence, Everton’s decision to rope in the young but experienced centre-back Adarabioyo seems like a wise move.
Read more
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Verdict
Everton’s inconsistency in defence has been pretty evident and Adarabioyo’s arrival could only help them next season. Moreover, he is only 22 and could prove to be a long-term signing.
