Transfer story
Ronald Koeman took over the reins at Everton last summer and guided them to a seventh place finish. He got everything out of his players, Romelu Lukaku the most notable of the many. Youth team products were given more than a run out in the Premier League, with players like Mason Holgate, Tom Davies, and Matthew Pennington all contributing well. Koeman even managed to get some great performances from the erratic but talented Ross Barkley.
The Merseyside club look to build on last season’s success by spending big in the transfer market. They have been linked to a plethora of names, the most recent being and Ajax Captain Davy Klaassen.
Klaassen had an impeccable season and bagged an astounding 20 goals from midfield last campaign. That was on the way to the Europa League final and a second place finish in the Dutch top flight.
With Ross Barkley stalling on signing a new contract, Everton and Koeman should move quickly to land the 24-year old from Ajax. He won’t be cheap, as Ajax have slapped a 26m pound price tag on their captain.
Player stats
As mentioned above, the midfielder had 16 goals to his name in the season which could have been so much more than just a runners-up finish in the Europa League and the Eredivisie. He also has 10 assists to go with that.
Klaassen averages 1.7 shots per game. The midfielder’s game is based on short passing, with a deadly finish to match at the end of it all. He manages 1.6 key passes per game.
He also had a good defensive good work rate, his 1.5 tackles and 0.9 interceptions per game prove so. His passing needs to improve, with a completion rate of around 78%. (Via Whoscored)
What’ll he offer Everton?
With the impending departure of Romelu Lukaku, there is a fear that goals may dry up at the blue half of Merseyside. Klaassen offers just that, and from midfield. He will have able runners in Yannick Bolasie and Kevin Mirallas in front of him. If Klaassen finds form in the league, then Everton fans will forget about even Ross Barkley sooner rather than later.
At what price?
Klaassen is an indispensable figure in the Ajax setup. The 26m-pound asking price might seem steep, but he has time on his side, and his stats prove he is a more than a decent player in his position. His contract at the Dutch club runs until June 2019.
Everton need their man, and it looks as though even Klaassen is keen on a move. Koeman has been critical of Ross Barkley’s discipline before, and a long-term admirer of his compatriot, so expect the move to be finalised within the next few weeks.
