da realsbet: A new dawn and a new era for Everton.
da betway: In truth, it’s about time. The impatient Toffees fans could not hide their anger and disappointment with Roberto Martinez and a faltering Everton team at times last season, as the XI crumbled from one tired display to another, shipping goals along the way.
In a season that was meant to offer so much, the underwhelming performances, style of play and final league position were all wholly unacceptable and with the fans’ support, the board sacked Martinez.
Recently, the Everton board decided on Ronald Koeman as the man to take them forward. With the biggest transfer kitty ever at Goodison Park, the 53-year-old Dutchman has the funds – £100m according to many reports – and experience to turn around a sleeping giant.
The expectations will be high next season on the blue half of Merseyside, but Koeman will need the right players and maybe a few that he has worked with before.
It’s bad news for Saints fans who look like losing some of their team once again, while a decent spell in the Netherlands has also seen the tactician work with some excellent continental talent.
Here are FIVE possibilities for Everton…
John Guidetti
The Sweden international played under Koeman at Feyenoord in 2011 while on loan from Manchester City. In his one and only season in the Eredivisie, Guidetti scored 20 goals in 23 games before heading back to his parent club.
The 24-year-old has a good record in front of goal, as the Dutchman will remember. Currently in La Liga with Celta Vigo, Guidetti has just helped his club reach the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey for the first time in 15 years and scored seven goals in his first season since joining on a free transfer. A long shot, but had his most successful spell under Koeman.
Graziano Pelle
Pelle could be one of the first in the Goodison Park door. Koeman’s Italian striker is in France with the Italy squad at the moment, but the Dutchman is a huge admirer of the forward, who scored 11 league goals last term. Despite boasting a record of 68 appearances and 23 goals, he has been linked with moves of late, and with no new manager in place on the South Coast, it’s anyone’s guess as to wether or not he has a future at St Mary’s.
It’s worth noting that Pelle played under Koeman at Feyenoord as well in 2013, scoring 23 goals after making a loan move permanent.
Fraser Forster
The England ‘keeper is a possible replacement for the departed Tim Howard, although Koeman is also casting glances at fellow Dutchman, Tim Krul. The 28-year-old giant has just two years left on his current contract at Southampton and is yet to sign a new deal. Chelsea are also said to be interested.
[ad_pod id=’1617-transfers’ align=’center’]
Victor Wanyama
Currently linked with Tottenham, but the lure of working with someone you know and a fist full of notes might sway the Kenyan to Everton. The 24-year-old had a transfer request rejected in January and has made no secret of his desire to leave Southampton. £25m should prise him away from St Mary’s.
[ad_pod id=’1617-transfers’ align=’center’]
Virgil Van Dijk
Oddly enough, Van Dijk is a serious contender to leave St Mary’s. Having only just signed a new six-year contract with Southampton just eight months into his current deal, Koeman is likely to be keen to bring the Dutchman to Goodison Park. The Dutch defender made the £13m to St Mary’s from Scottish champions Celtic in September 2015, signing an initial five-year contract. But contracts only protect the club rather than the player and the right money could mean Van Dijk wearing a blue shirt instead of a red and white striped one.
[ad_pod id=’1617-transfers’ align=’center’]