Whisper it quietly but there’s a growing feeling that Ronald Koeman could be the one to bring Everton back into European reckoning.
It’s early days of course, but the Toffees have started life under the former Southampton boss in very good fashion. A draw at home to Spurs has been followed up by back to back wins to leave the Goodison Park club fourth going into the international break behind many people’s three title favourites – Man City, Man United and Chelsea.
How long this run goes on for remains to be seen but when you consider Romelu Lukaku has yet to find the form of last season things could only be about to get better for the men from the blue half of Stanley Park.
Koeman then, might already be adjusting his sights for a tilt at the Champions League places and with that in mind may want to get a few more players in before the transfer window closes.
So we’ve had a look at Serie A and think this FIVE could be real options for the Dutchman…
Andrea Belotti
This young striker looks the real deal already.
He hit double figures last season for Torino and has banished any suggestion it was a fluke already this campaign with four goals in two Serie A games with this total including a hat-trick against Bologna at the weekend.
If Lukaku doesn’t start firing soon Everton’s ambitions could hit the buffers but a player like Belotti who will only get better would solve that.
Milan Badelj
Idrissa Gueye and Gareth Barry started the game against Stoke in the holding roles and did well.
Gueye wins the ball whilst Barry gets it moving but the latter is in the twilight of his career and his club will need a replacement soon. Who better then, than the man that allows Luka Modric to go and play for Croatia – Milan Badelj?
He’s a top holding player whose range of passing would be perfect for Premier League and, Everton’s target, European football.
Federico Bernardeschi
Dubbed by many in the Italian press as the new Francesco Totti, you could say a lot is expected of the Fiorentina man.
He plays in the hole between attack and defence where his dribbling ability causes a lot of problems for the opposition and in many ways is similar to Ross Barkley. If Everton could combine the two then, they may just have the makings of a world class midfield pair.
Mattia De Sciglio
Seamus Coleman’s injury issues have persisted into this season and whilst Mason Holgate has been a revelation at the back, for a young player to keep up his levels of performance would be astonishing.
The Toffees might want to look at De Sciglio as an option as he’s slightly older than Holgate but still has room to improve whilst his club AC Milan also remain in the doldrums – somewhere Everton are trying to leave this season.
Matteo Politano
For many that look at the meteoric rise of Sassuolo, Domenico Berardi is the main factor and a real star to behold. To some extent that is correct but he’s not the only gem in the Neroverdi’s jewellery box.
Matteo Politano deserves just as much credit for his work down the right flank as he chipped in with five goals last season and notched a goal and assist as the club qualified through the Europa League play-offs this season.
One Everton should really consider.