Date: 12th September 2016 at 2:32pm
Written by:

Everton’s battle with Tottenham to sign Moussa Sissoko was one of the headlines of Deadline Day 2016 as the Toffees lost out to Spurs, who lured the Frenchman in with the promise of European football.

This left Ronald Koeman with only one name to add to the Toffees’ roster on the final day of the window and that was Ecuadorian striker Enner Valencia, arriving on loan from West Ham United. However, this deal could well prove to be another piece of fantastic business.

Given Sissoko’s erratic attitude; the club, in my opinion, have dodged a bullet in being outbid by their Premier League rivals. There is no doubt that the winger is fantastically skillful and, on his day, is one of the top players in the country. However, his ego is problematic.

Sissoko

France international Sissoko opted for a Deadline Day switch to Tottenham – Photo: Offside.

He was fed up at Newcastle United and, as a result, put in some incredibly lazy performances that made him look like a bystander in matches. A month later, he walked out to represent France at Euro 2016 and looked a changed man.

This chasm in form is purely down to attitude. Indeed, in his last six matches for Newcastle, he had a goalscoring chance every 70 minutes and created one every 187 compared to 49 and 79 minutes respectively for France at the Euros.

Everton is a club in transition. The start to this season has been refreshing, promising and, most importantly, successful. Nonetheless, with a new manager, new chairman and a host of new players, this purple patch is not guaranteed to last.

It seems very unlikely that the Toffees will be as woeful as under Roberto Martinez last season, but nothing is certain with so much change. If the worst was to happen and Everton endured a slump in form, the club would need its players to play like they never have before. Given his attitude at the Magpies last season, it seems unlikely that Sissoko would do this.

On the contrary, Valencia seems a perfect fit at Goodison Park. His recent form may have fluctuated but being frozen out under Slaven Bilic at West Ham won’t have helped. It isn’t surprising that so many Everton fans are voicing their disappointment with Koeman’s only arrival on Deadline Day but, perhaps controversially, I disagree with these naysayers.

It was at the World Cup in 2014 that the Ecuadorian first caught my eye. He was one of the surprise packages at the tournament as he netted three goals in three matches. I was desperate for Everton to sign him then, but instead he opted for East London.

It seems that, primarily, Valencia has been loaned in to provide back-up for talisman Romelu Lukaku, which is what the Toffees desperately needed as Arouna Koné and Oumar Niasse were far from suitable replacements. Everton’s style of play is tailored to Lukaku’s strongest attributes and many Evertonians may be questioning how Valencia, who is 17cm shorter and 20kg lighter than the Belgian, is suitable back-up.

Indeed, on paper it is most definitely questionable. However, on the pitch, Valencia has all the attributes needed to play in Lukaku’s role. The Ecudaorian is undeniably fast, just like Lukaku, and despite his size, has an incredible leap on him.

The 26-year-old can out-leap any of the biggest defenders and, in fact, won 37.5% of his aerial duels over the past two seasons which is the same percentage as the big Belgian.

v Manchester United - Enner Valencia of West Ham - Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Valencia could make his Everton debut against Sunderland tonight – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

It is not only cover for Lukaku that Valencia provides. As manager Koeman noted, “He can play in different positions across the front.”

The striker was utilised in a number of roles across the front line whilst at the Hammers and it seems likely that Koeman will play him as a winger as well as a striker. The Toffees boast numerous first-class wingers already, but the competition is still healthy for the squad.

Rather than splashing the cash on a risky Sissoko, Everton have made a clever acquisition in the versatile Valencia, who plugs a gap that the Toffees really needed filling.

As a loan deal, if Valencia doesn’t find his feet at Everton, then there is not even any pressure for the club to shell out a transfer fee in order to make him permanent! However, I have every faith that he will be another shrewd signing by Koeman.

Everton News

 
Brought to you by Shoot!

One response to “Why Enner Valencia is a better signing for Everton than Moussa Sissoko”

  1. Spyinthesky says:

    Frozen out? Playing every game to the angst of West Ham fans is hardly freezing out.