Why a move for Ryan Fraser could save Everton from a horror season

According to the Liverpool Echo, Everton are still interested in making a move for Scotland winger Ryan Fraser after failing to get a deal over the line in the summer. 

The 25-year-old, who starred for Bournemouth with 7 goals and 14 assists in the Premier League last season, was the subject of widespread interest from several other clubs, including Arsenal, Everton, Wolves and Chelsea. (h/t Liverpool Echo)

However, with noting coming to fruition in the summer, Bournemouth have put a lucrative £100,000-a-week contract on the table for Fraser, who is set to become a free agent next summer after the expiry of his current deal at the Vitality Stadium. (h/t Liverpool Echo)

Fraser, though, is hesitating to put pen to paper on fresh terms, particularly with so many big clubs prepared to offer him a chance to take the next significant step in his career and the Cherries could be forced to cash in on their prized asset in January if it becomes apparent that he won’t extend his stay on the south coast beyond next summer. 

Interestingly, Everton are still keen on securing the services of Fraser in January even after splashing millions of pounds on the likes of Alex Iwobi and Moise Kean to bolster their attack in the summer transfer window. 

However, given that neither of them has managed to set the stage on fire in what has been a nightmarish start to the campaign for the Toffees, it is not surprising to see that Everton are still looking at the prospect of a cut-price deal for Ryan Fraser during the mid-season trading period. 

Everton, of course, are expected to have a new centre-back and a proven out-and-out centre-forward high on their wishlist in January, given their ongoing woes at both ends of the pitch. But the utility of another recruit in a wide attacking role can hardly be overruled, with Theo Walcott failing to justify his presence in the ranks. 

There is a reason as to why the 25-year-old was among the most creative players in the entire Premier League last season.

While he has found himself in and out of Eddie Howe’s starting eleven this term due to his unresolved contract situation, the Scotsman certainly looks good enough to add a bit more spark and X-Factor to an attacking unit that has looked quite blunt and listless thus far. 

Fraser is among the shortest players in the Premier League but he has his own way of tormenting full-backs, combining his upper-body strength and determination with his excellent close control and nimble footwork to weave his way past defenders along the flanks. 

Add to that his innate ability to find spaces in the final third, as well as an absolute wand of a right foot that is capable of delivering pinpoint crosses into the box, and it is not difficult to see why he could prove to be an excellent signing for Everton. 

Having only found the net 5 times in their first 8 league fixtures, the Toffees are currently languishing in the relegation zone and it doesn’t require a rocket scientist to figure out that they would need to improve significantly on those numbers if they are to secure a respectable finish, let alone a place in the top-six. 

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To that end, bringing in Ryan Fraser, who is a winger with proven pedigree in the Premier League, certainly makes a lot of sense for a number of reasons and he is certainly as good as gold for a cut-price fee. 

With that in mind, Everton should not hesitate to go all out in their pursuit of the Scottish international in January in a bid to save themselves from a horror season, albeit they are likely to face stiff competition from their Premier League rivals if the Cherries do put him up for sale.