Carlo Ancelotti is set for a huge Everton blunder amid reports the Italian does not see Gylfi Sigurdsson as part of his long-term vision at Goodison Park ahead of the January window.
What’s the word?
According to Eurosport, Everton are to prioritise strengthening Ancelotti’s midfield in the winter market after deeming the position to be an area of concern despite the form of Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Rodriguez following their summer arrivals.
The Toffees are monitoring the situations of Tottenham Hotspur duo Harry Winks and Dele Alli in case Jose Mourinho grants either a move away from north London in January, while Sami Khedira has been in contact with Ancelotti as he looks to secure a move away from Juventus.
Everton are tracking several central midfielders after Sigurdsson and Tom Davies were deemed to no longer have long-term futures at Goodison Park, with future exits now on the cards.
Sigurdsson has repeatedly been linked with a move away from Merseyside since Ancelotti’s arrival, with the Iceland international said to have headed a vast clear-out as the Italian sought to stamp his mark on Marco Silva’s squad.
But the £16.2m-rated playmaker remained at Goodison Park in both the January and summer windows, and has been given frequent game time this season after moving ahead of Andre Gomes in Ancelotti’s pecking order.
Ancelotti’s set for a blunder
Ancelotti looking to sell Sigurdsson in January or next summer would see the former Chelsea head coach set himself up for a blunder, having begun to witness the Toffees’ £45million former record purchase begin to rediscover his form this term.
The 31-year-old had lost his way under Silva, going from the Blues’ “shining light” in the 2018/19 Premier League campaign with six assists and a joint-team-high 13 goals to a shadow of himself the following season with just one goal and an assist in 15 outings before the Portuguese’s sacking.
“He doesn’t look pretty, but he can finish and smell a goal. He’s the shining light for them all season. He’s been the only one that has kept his form together,” former Aston Villa striker Dean Saunders told talkSPORT (21/04/2019, 18:40).
Sigurdsson managed to rediscover some of his form upon Ancelotti’s arrival with a goal and two assists, but has come on leaps and bounds this term by delivering two of his best performances for a long while in wins over Chelsea and Leicester City.
And while Ancelotti believes there’s still more to come from the former Swansea City maestro, he, too, was impressed by how Sigurdsson offered six of Everton’s seven key chances while captaining the side in the 1-0 win over Frank Lampard’s Stamford Bridge natives.
“I agree, he did really well, supported the team offensively and defensively. He hasn't started a lot of games, but he has played a lot of parts of games. I am satisfied,” Ancelotti said, via quotes by the Liverpool Echo. “He can improve his level. But, in this moment, he is ok.”
AND in other news, an £18m-rated Everton ace once an automatic pick for Carlo Ancelotti faces a huge hurdle to regain his place at Goodison Park.