Why Joe Worrall to Everton would be a good move

According to the Mirror (27 November, goals pull-out, page 6), Everton have entered the race for Nottingham Forest’s Joe Worrall.

Joe Worrall, 22, has been impressive for Forest this season after featuring 17 times this season. He has helped them keep 6 clean sheets so far. Forest are currently in 4^th position in the Championship standings.

Worrall came through the ranks of Nottingham Forest’s youth system. He was with Rangers last season on a loan deal but struggled to find form there. Later, after returning to his parent club, he has been a vital member of Sabri Lamouchi’s squad.

With his solid defensive displays for Forest, it would be no surprise that several top-flight English clubs are on the move to sign him.

Everton, who are keen on the centre-back, are currently going through a rough patch in the Premier League. Marco Silva could not retain Kurt Zouma, who returned to Chelsea after his loan spell with the Toffees.

Other centre-backs, Yerry Mina and Michael Keane have not been consistent. The Toffees have already conceded 20 goals in just 13 games. Marco Silva has only one option left on the bench – Mason Holgate.

They have lacked depth in their defensive unit and if the Toffees decide to bring reinforcements at the back, Joe Worrall would be a good option as he would surely fit the bill. The youngster has vast experience and seems to be a tough defender.

The Nottingham-born centre-back can be a backup in demanding situations for Marco Silva.

Worrall’s transformation this season has been surprising since he struggled for form and game time while at Rangers. He has developed himself under Sabri Lamouchi and looks to be a defender set to make his mark in the Premier League.

His game time shows that Worrall has the energy to be fit for the entire duration of a game, which is the most important attribute a modern-day centre-back must possess. In 17 games for the team, he has featured in every possible minute, thus establishing himself as one of the toughest defenders.

According to Whoscored, Worrall has registered 0.6 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and a staggering 5.8 clearances per game. His numbers speak volumes of his quality as a developing centre-back. He also passes the ball with 80.9% accuracy.

Read more

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Verdict

Forest may not make things easy for his admirers, as they seek to get promoted to the Premier League next season. And losing their star player in January would dampen their hopes of qualification.

Therefore, it would be good if Everton manage to lure the future prospect to Goodison Park. He may not just be a backup but his presence would bring healthy competition to the team.