With Vitalii Mykolenko’s output stalled and Adam Aznou needing regular minutes, David Moyes must weigh a crucial transfer gamble to stabilise the Toffees’ problematic left flank.
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Everton face a decision in the left-back position during the summer transfer window.
As it stands, Everton have two left-backs on the books: Adam Aznou and Vitalii Mykolenko. Both Jarrad Branthwaite and James Garner were utilised at left-back at times last season, with David Moyes showing little faith in Aznou.
During pre-season, Moyes has given a fair amount of game time to Aznou, rotating in and out of the side with Mykolenko. There's no doubt Aznou has impressed, particularly going forward, but there are question marks about his defensive abilities.
Everton are faced with a decision to make in the market. There are multiple potential outcomes.
Could Aznou leave on loan and Everton sign a left-back? Does Aznou stay as a backup and likely receive minimal game time? Does Aznou leave and Everton stick with one left-back, with Garner and Branthwaite as backups? We'll go over the potential decisions.
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Aznou has enjoyed a strong pre-season, but there are still question marks as to whether he is capable of playing in the Premier League on a weekly basis. I do feel that Aznou perhaps isn't ready to be a guaranteed starter in the Premier League every single week, but he certainly deserves to be more involved than he was last season.
In reality, if Mykolenko is available, he's going to play over Aznou. That leaves Everton with a decision to make regarding Aznou.
The Moroccan left-back needs to be playing regularly if he wants to develop. Whatever the solution from Everton, it has to result in Aznou playing regularly, whether that be at Everton or elsewhere.
Vitalii Mykolenko
Despite Mykolenko being the starting, senior left-back at Everton, there are still question marks as to whether he's the man to take us forward. The Ukrainian international struggles offensively, while he also has his flaws defensively.
Aznou must be getting frustrated knowing it doesn't really matter the level of performance produced by Mykolenko, the latter is always going to be named in the starting XI. Will that change next season? Lets see.
If Everton want to progress to the next level, they need better than Mykolenko at left-back. Does he do a job for a side in the bottom half of the Premier League? Yes. And maybe that's the reality of the situation at the moment. Stick with Mykolenko until Aznou is 'ready': is that the plan?
My ideal situation would have been this: keep Mykolenko as a second-choice, bring in a first-choice left-back, and allow Aznou to leave on loan. I'd even have considered an experienced 30-year-old stopgap on loan or on a free.
We know Mykolenko isn't the long-term answer for progression. That means the priority has to be Aznou. One way or another, Aznou needs to be playing regular football.
Now, my 'ideal solution' is pretty unrealistic at this stage of the window. Looking at Everton's priorities for the market, it appears left-back is fairly low down the list. Do I agree with that? No, but that feels like the reality.
The next potential solution is going to be Mykolenko as first-choice, if we're being realistic. That then leaves a decision on Aznou. Can we afford to let Aznou leave on loan and have Mykolenko as the only natural option?
We do have players who could slot in at left-back. Garner, Branthwaite, maybe even Merlin Rohl given his new-found versatility.
None of them are ideal solutions, however, so it's a difficult decision.
Realistically, Aznou might need to stay at the club as a backup left-back. However, Moyes needs to be braver. 1-0 down with 20 minutes to go? Nobody can convince me Aznou isn't the better option at that stage of the game. 2-0 down at half-time and want to completely switch the game around? Aznou is the better option once again.
Last season, Aznou wasn't even given opportunities during those games. There should also then be opportunities for Aznou to start. Got three games in a week? Give Aznou a run-out. Hull City at home when Everton might have a rare 60%+ possession? Unleash the Aznou.
We're likely to see Aznou and Mykolenko as the two left-back options, and it's down to Moyes to ensure the development of Aznou is at the forefront of his mind.