Why Fernandes would be a great addition for Ancelotti’s Everton

According to the Athletic (h/t Daily Express), Everton are leading the race for Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes.

The Portuguese Under-21 international has struggled for game time at Benfica this season and has been on the radar of a host of clubs such as West Ham, Manchester United and AC Milan, the report adds.

The Toffees, who lost the Merseyside derby against a youthful Liverpool side recently in the FA Cup, left new manager Carlo Ancelotti a furious man.

That said, Ancelotti must bolster his ranks in January in a bid to push his side, who are currently 11^th into the top half of the table.

Signing the young Fernandes would help them go down that path and they are planning an 18-month loan deal, with a £34 million option to sign him the 20-year old permanently.

Gedson has featured just 7 times this season after falling out with Benfica boss Bruno Lage, whose side now sit atop the Portuguese first division.

A product of the Benfica youth academy, Fernandes made his professional debut for the Portuguese outfit’s B side in the Liga Pro in the 2017-18 season. His impressive displays of 5 goals and 6 assists saw him being moved to the first team the subsequent season.

In his debut season in the top-flight, Fernandes featured in 22 of their 34 league games and contributed to his side with 3 assists. His versatility seems to be his forte and the Toffees need a player like him.

Fernandes is comfortable playing either as a central midfielder or on the right-wing and has donned a variety of roles for the Portuguese outfit. Meanwhile, Ancelotti’s Everton have had issues in the midfield with the side yet to tick in the middle of the park.

Their lack of creativity has resulted in the side’s poor run of form early in the season, which saw them languishing in the relegation zone. However, Ancelotti’s arrival has turned the tables around but there is work to be done as it was evident in the game against the Reds.

Attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson has looked far from impressive with the 30-year old struggling for form this year.

The Icelandic international, who was one of their top-performers alongside striker Richarlison last season, has looked a mere shadow of his former self.

Everton have also lost midfielders Andrew Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin to respective injuries, adding to their set of ongoing woes.

Their lack of creativity in the middle has seen them score just 24 goals so far from a total of 21 league games and they need new faces if they wish to end the season on a high note.

Read more:

• Why Everton right-back Kenny would be a good addition to Chelsea
• Why Everton must not pay much heed to Cascarino’s suggestions
• Why signing Egan would help Everton sort out their issues in defence

Verdict

Having proven his credentials just a year before, Fernandes sure seems to be a good option for the Toffees, who are clearly struggling in the middle of the park.

Moreover, he is young and still has a lot of time to improve, especially under an elite manager like Ancelotti. Hence, Fernandes would be a great addition and future investment for Everton if they wish to sort out their issues in the midfield.