Two players Carlo Ancelotti should sign for Everton in January
According to the Guardian, Everton have agreed to a deal with Carlo Ancelotti to become their new full-time manager.
Carlo Ancelotti, 60, who has won three Champions League titles in a festooned career, was sacked by Napoli earlier this month after a high-profile falling out with club chairman Aurelio de Laurentiis.
The Italian has spent most of his career coaching teams in the Champions League but will have the job of reviving Everton, who are in a relegation battle but have beaten Chelsea and drawn with Manchester United in their past two matches under the caretaker Duncan Ferguson.
The Merseysiders have underperformed this term and find themselves just four points above the relegation zone. Ancelotti has experience across Europe and it will be needed to turn things around at Everton.
That being said, here are two players the Italian tactician should sign in January.
1. Unai Nunez (Athletic Bilbao)
One of Ancelotti’s first jobs will be to stop conceding so many goals. Only four teams have conceded more than them this season, meaning the 60-year-old must prioritize signing a central defender as the likes of Yerry Mina and Michael Keane haven’t performed as per their standards.
Back in October, the Daily Mail had claimed that Everton were interested in signing Athletic Bilbao defender Unai Nunez.
Nunez, 22, helped Spain Under-21s to victory at the European Championship earlier this past summer.
The defender, who has been at the club since he was 7, last penned a deal at San Mames in October 2017 which has a £30million release clause attached and will run through until 2022.
The Spaniard has struggled for regular game time at Bilbao this season, managing just five league appearances so far. Keeping his situation in mind, Everton must recruit Nunez to solve their defensive woes.
2. Olivier Giroud (Chelsea)
Olivier Giroud has struggled for game time under Frank Lampard this term and Chelsea are willing to listen to offers for the veteran striker in January. (h/t the Daily Mail)
Giroud, 33, whose contract expires at the end of the season, made his first start for Chelsea since August 18 but struggled to have an impact against West Ham. Nonetheless, the Frenchman, who came close to signing for Everton in 2017, could be a good fit under Ancelotti.
At Everton, the 33-year-old would certainly play every week and could add some much-needed goals, whilst providing Ancelotti’s attack with a presence up top.
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Giroud’s presence could see the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bernard thrive in the final third as well. If he wants to get a place at Euro 2020, Giroud must leave in January. And a move to Everton would be ideal for him.