Why Everton should go all out to sign Marko Arnautovic in January
According to a report from the Liverpool Echo, Everton are considering a January move for West Ham star Marko Arnautovic.
The Austrian has established himself as one of West Ham’s most important players since moving to the London Stadium from Stoke City in the summer of 2017. He has been in outstanding form since being handed a more central role by former manager David Moyes last season, and scored 11 Premier League goals last term.
Marko Arnautovic, 29, has continued to impress this season, having already found the net five times and supplied an assist in 11 matches despite West Ham’s early struggles under Manuel Pellegrini. And that form has not gone unnoticed, with Everton keeping tabs on the Austrian forward.
Everton have enjoyed a lukewarm start to the 2018/19 campaign under new manager Marco Silva. After spending a good amount of money in the summer transfer window, Marco Silva will aim to break into the top six.
The Portuguese tactician managed to strengthen almost every area of the pitch before the start of the season. The forward department was also bolstered with the arrivals of Richarlison and Bernard, but the Toffees failed to land an out-and-out striker. And that has come back to bite Silva as Everton have found it difficult to score goals on a consistent basis so far this campaign.
Cenk Tosun, signed from Besiktas earlier in January, has failed to live up to his expectations at the Goodison Park, while neither Oumar Niasse nor Dominic Calvert-Lewin has made a big impression this season. Silva has even tried using Richarlison up top but the nippy Brazilian is at his best down the left flank where he uses his pace and dribbling skills to terrorise the defenders.
With Everton needing a clinical goalscorer, Silva must try signing Marko Arnautovic in January. Arnautovic has become one of the deadliest strikers in the Premier League outside the top six. The Austria international is a strong, powerful forward blessed with raw pace and exquisite dribbling skills.
Arnautovic is a very aggressive player known for his short temperament and tendency to lash out at players by putting in a reckless challenge. But he has managed to channelise his anger in a better way for a while now, thus earning rich rewards on the pitch. Truth be told, the former Inter Milan man has become a more rounded player now at West Ham.
A mobile centre-forward blessed with awareness and vision, Arnautovic has the ability to link up effectively with his teammates and finish off chances in one blink of an eye. Quite clearly, he would fit the bill perfectly at Everton.
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Hence, Everton should leave no stone unturned in their efforts to lure the Austrian to Merseyside in January. A player of his calibre is likely to provide a new dimension to their attack.