In today’s Everton roundup, we look at the news doing the rounds surrounding the Toffees. The club are monitoring Jack Clarke, manager Marco Silva insists Theo Walcott is ‘unhappy’, and Sandro Ramirez is ‘calm’ despite his goal drought continuing away from Goodison Park.
Club keeping an eye on Clarke’s situation
Report: As reported by the Express, Tottenham Hotspur are considering bringing back Jack Clarke after a torrid time at Leeds United, with the club keen to loan him out to a different club. Everton are one of the few top-flight clubs keeping an eye on the 18-year-old with the Toffees are considering taking him on, should Spurs bring him back from the Yorkshire club.
Verdict: In Clarke’s debut season at Leeds, the teenager won the Young Player of the Year after netting two goals and providing four assists in his 22 Championship appearances. However, after returning to Elland Road this season as a permanent Spurs players, Clarke has yet to have been named in a squad for a Championship clash and has appeared in just two League Cup fixtures.
Everton are well equipped up top this season, but with Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Moise Kean preferred down the centre, Clarke could battle for a spot on the wings, especially considering Theo Walcott has played just 48 minutes all season, whilst both Bernard and Alex Iwobi have yet to cement regular starting spots.
Walcott ‘unhappy’, says Silva
Report: As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Everton boss Marco Silva states that ex-Arsenal man Walcott is unhappy at a lack of minutes at the club since his move from north London. Silva said: “I know the last few seasons at Arsenal were not the best, then he came to Everton and had four or five good months.
“Last season, even if in some games he was not in the starting XI, he was one of the players who played more minutes for me.”
“Theo is unhappy, he has to be unhappy, like Tom or whoever, Theo has to be unhappy but after that you have different ways to react.
Verdict: Walcott has found himself glued to the bench this season, playing just 48 minutes, and with the arrival of Iwobi, it is no surprise to see the 30-year-old so unhappy. Last season, Walcott did play in 37/38 games, but he only started 24 of them and bagged himself just five goals in all, subsequently forcing Silva to delve into the market for an alternative goalscoring winger.
The Englishman has found himself miles away from the national setup in the last four years, and after enduring a similar fate at Arsenal, Walcott could perhaps have to find another team if he wants to get the minutes he desires.
Ramirez ‘calm’ despite poor form
Report: Sandro Ramirez told El Desmarque recently that he is ‘calm’, despite not finding the back of the net in two years. The 24-year-old said: “For me, it’s a very important year. I’m very excited. When you’ve gone some time without scoring like I have, you need [confidence]. A striker lives for goals, but I don’t believe that feeling. I’m calm because I’ve always scored goals and I will continue scoring goals”.
Verdict: Ramirez has netted just one goal at four different clubs since signing for Everton back in 2017. This one goal came in a Europa League tie for the Toffees back in 2017, and the Spaniard has since endured disastrous loan spells at Sevilla, Real Sociedad and now at Real Vallodolid.
However, the Everton man has proved he can put the goals away, after bagging 14 times for Malaga back in 2016-17. After all, Ramirez is still only 24, and his best years are yet to come. Although, it is tough to see them at Goodison Park, with Richarlison, Kean and Calvert-Lewin all pushing for a spot as the central striker.