Jake O'Brien was an unused substitute as Everton defeated Crystal Palace in the opening game of the Premier League season.
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News has emerged that Everton could offload Jake O’Brien during the summer transfer window.
The Republic of Ireland international spent the majority of last season playing out of position at right-back, and in the Toffees’ first Premier League game of the campaign this year against Crystal Palace, O’Brien was an unused substitute.
Some suggested that O’Brien should be partnering Jarrad Branthwaite at centre-back heading into the new season, but David Moyes opted to deploy James Tarkowski, which shouldn’t have been a huge surprise.
O’Brien is clearly Moyes’ third-choice centre-back at the moment, while Everton are, of course, in the market for a new right-back. Merlin Rohl was deployed at right-back on Saturday afternoon, so it’s looking like a precarious situation for O’Brien.
It’s unclear if O’Brien is pushing for a departure, but it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if he were keen on a move in the summer transfer window.
Everton now have a decision to make in the market, as O’Brien is still a key squad player, even if he is third-choice in the centre-back position.
A report from The Athletic claims clubs in England and Europe are keen on O'Brien, with Everton open for business.
Needless work
Unless O’Brien is pushing for a departure, selling the Republic of Ireland international just feels like needless work in the market. If you allow O’Brien to leave, you’re going to have to replace him, and when we have more pressing needs, it does feel like needless work.
O’Brien is currently right-back and centre-back cover, and he’s still young enough that he could easily improve if given a run at centre-back.
Of course, if O’Brien does want to depart, that does change the situation, especially if he’s not going to be given many minutes this season. Everton need to bring in a right-back, potentially two, so losing one of your options just doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Finding a replacement won’t be easy
Trying to find a player who is capable of providing cover as a centre-back or right-back in the last week of the summer transfer window, while also being comfortable with potentially just playing a squad role, won’t be easy.
In reality, you’re either looking at a young player for the future who is willing to bide his time, a poorer player in his prime looking to play for a bigger club, or an ageing defender looking for his final contract.
It’s a difficult sell to a potential target, which goes back to the point of it putting Everton under unnecessary stress in the market in the final week of the window.
Replacement first, sale second
Selling O’Brien simply can’t be an option without bringing in a replacement. That leaves us with just three centre-backs: one who has been struggling with injuries, and two over the age of 30.
That would also leave us with Nathan Patterson and Merlin Rohl as our right-back options: one who is a midfielder, and the other who feels likely to leave this summer.
In an ideal world, your replacement can replicate O’Brien’s profile in terms of covering two positions. The perfect replacement would then be someone like Josh Acheampong. An elite-level talent who is capable of playing in either position.
Acheampong could come in and compete for the right-back spot immediately, push the current centre-backs, and eventually lead the defence.
If you’re keeping Rohl as a backup right-back option and bringing another in, then you could potentially look at a different defensive profile. Callum Doyle is someone who is catching my eye at the moment. He’s one of the best ball-playing defenders you’re likely to see, and he’s destined to play in the Premier League very soon.
Players like Doyle and Acheampong you’re likely going to have to pay a fair whack for, but as long-term investments, they are likely to be worth it in the long run.