Everton have been linked with yet another winger - will this transfer get over the line?
Everton’s transfer window hasn’t exactly got off to a flying start despite promises of investment from the Friedkin Group, the club’s new owners – but reinforcements are on the way and David Moyes has told the press that the Toffees are “getting closer” to making some deals. The question is which ones.
The club’s transfer team has been focusing on signing a new winger to add some firepower to the front three, but have thus far been hitting dead ends. An opening bid for Southampton’s Tyler Dibling was summarily rejected, while interest in Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo hasn’t gone anywhere as yet and hopes of signing Como’s Assane Diao appear minimal. But perhaps a new name that has cropped up on the rumour mill could be on his way to Merseyside…
Everton reported to have interest in Zuriko Davitashvili
The 24-year-old Georgian winger is hardly a household name, but he’s got plenty of proven quality and a strong track record in the game. Named as one of the best young players in the world by The Guardian as a teenager, Davitashvili has established himself in France after recent spells with Bordeaux and Saint-Étienne and has won 46 caps for his country.
Despite a career-best return of nine goals and eight assists in the league last season, however, he was unable to prevent Saint-Étienne from tumbling into France’s second tier – and is now agitating for a move to ensure he remains in the top flight. French outlet Foot Mercato reports that Everton are among the teams hoping to benefit from his likely departure, although they are just one member of a diverse cast of suitors which includes Borussia Mönchengladbach, RC Strasbourg, Sevilla and Stade Rennais.
As it stands, Saint-Étienne are doing everything they can to hang on to Davitashvili as they try to keep their best players on the books in order to engineer a swift return to Ligue 1. They have Davitashvili, who signed last summer, under contract until 2029, but the 5’9” winger is making his feelings about a move felt, and has refused to play in two recent pre-season friendlies.
It isn’t clear how much Davitashvili might cost, and there is no suggestion that a formal offer has been made by Everton or any other side, which suggests that the Georgian is one name on a shortlist rather than a primary target, especially given that at least one offer has been made for Dibling. But should the bid for Dibling fail, then Davitashvili could well be the Plan B. But is he good enough to make the difference as Everton look to make a strong start to life in their brand new stadium?
How good is Zuriko Davitashvili?
A naturally right-footed player who is comfortable playing on either wing, Davitashvili is noted for his high work rate and for his efficiency in the final third – his scoring rate exceeded his xG last season and his precise final ball means that he converted an impressive number of good positions into goals for his team.
He also forces a substantial number of turnovers both pressing hard and tracking back, and there’s little doubt that Moyes would appreciate his work ethic. The question is whether he would represent a good investment as Everton look to improve. The list of teams allegedly interested in signing him clearly offers a good reference, but his track record at the top level is limited, with just one season in a ‘big five’ league under his belt, albeit an impressive one even if it did end with his team’s relegation.
There are also evident weaknesses, especially in his dribbling. A very willing ball-carrier, Davitashvili’s success rate is poor – he attempted to beat defenders one on one a massive 123 times last season, but made it through on just 46 occasions. Much of his ability to get the ball into the final third relies on trying in volume rather than doing so with especially impressive skill.
Still, he’s a good crosser and passer, determined enough to keep trying when he finds himself running into a brick wall, and when he does make it past the defence and into dangerous positions, he turns them into goals. He would certainly suit a team that play direct football with an emphasis on grit and graft – a description of a Moyes side that almost passes into stereotype.
Based on the stats and his output, Davitashvili would likely be a rotational player at Premier League level rather than a starter and a player who would immediately improve a team like Everton – as Kubo, for instance, probably would be should Everton find themselves in a position to make a deal happen with Sociedad.
But Everton need rotational players too after losing a host of players this summer, and it’s unlikely that Davitashvili would be especially expensive – he cost Saint-Étienne just €6m (£5.2m) last year and having been relegated, it’s unlikely that his price tag will jump by too much.
In short, this isn’t a deal that would drastically change how Everton can play or how many matches they win, but Davitashvili would suit the club’s style of play and offer some welcome depth and decent quality. If he is indeed cheap and the French media have their facts straight, then he could be a solid (if not necessarily earth-shattering) signing.
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