Why Gylfi Sigurdsson Would Be Perfect For Everton
Everton have had a decent first season under new manager Ronald Koeman. A 7th placed finish in the Premier League, plus a qualification for the UEFA Europa League playoff rounds marks a great improvement on last season’s 11th position finish under Roberto Martinez.
However, the real work begins now for the former Southampton manager. There are elements of inconsistency in his team that will need to be ironed out for the next campaign. And having made it to Europe, Koeman will need to strengthen the squad to achieve further progression in the Europa League and also try and challenge for a place in the top four next season.
What makes the transfer window more important for Everton is that they might be losing two of their best players – Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley in the summer. Both the players enter the final twelve months of their contract next month and have refused to pen a new deal with the Toffees. With their exits looming large, the business that Everton do in the summer becomes much more important.
One player who has been heavily linked with a move to the Goodison Park is Gylfi Sigurdsson of Swansea City (Sky Sports). The 27-year old has been one of the most impressive creative playmakers in the Premier League over the past two years for the Welsh outfit and has been extremely pivotal in them staying up in the Premier League. Koeman is an admirer of the 27-year old and tried to bring him to Southampton during his days in charge at the St. Mary’s.
One of the most underrated players in England, Sigurdsson did not miss a single league game over the course of the season, finishing with 9 goals and 13 assists. His displays earned him the Swansea City club Player of the Year award for the second season running and he has been attracting serious interest from several quarters, with former club Tottenham Hotspur also reportedly interested in his services.
The Icelandic international’s tally of 13 assists is the third best in the league for the season behind Kevin De Bruyne (18) and Christian Eriksen (15). His 9-goal return is the 6th highest for a midfielder in the English top-flight this season. Those are impressive numbers and more so considering the plight that his team were in for most of the season.
Sigurdsson has the ability to open up defences with his brilliant vision and passing skills. The attacking midfielder has created a total of 72 goal-scoring opportunities this term in the Premier League. Just like how Fernando Llorente has fed off of the Icelandic international’s creative brilliance this season, Everton could reap great benefits with a potent striker up front.
And another standout ability of Sigurdsson is his top class set-piece delivery. At this point of time, there are very few players who can hit the ball as sweetly as the Swansea star, from a dead ball situation. He has scored some spectacular goals from free-kicks this season and has set up quite a handful as well from similar situations.
Able to play on the flanks or through the middle, Sigurdsson is at his best when operating as an advanced playmaker in the hole behind the striker. His ability to split the opposition open and his keen eye for a goal will add a big threat to the Everton attack. If Barkley does leave Goodison Park in the summer, Sigurdsson will be an excellent replacement or possibly even a marked upgrade on the Englishman.