Everton: Moshiri must sign Omar Colley | OneFootball

Everton have had their fair share of issues on the pitch, despite the media attention being largely centred around the manager position and behind the scenes problems, with questions needed to be answered about the consistently poor performances we have seen almost every week this season for the Toffees.

The defensive issues in the side are something that needs to be addressed if Everton are going to progress over the next few months and save them from the potential of a relegation battle for the remainder of the season.

When you look at Everton’s defensive record this season in isolation, the side has lost the majority of their games, with 11 defeats from 20 Premier League games, five wins and four draws and have conceded 35 goals, compared to the 24 goals they have actually scored this term.

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It is clear that Everton needs a shift in their defence, with a right-back and a left-back already signed by recently sacked manager, Rafa Benitez, during this transfer window. However, Farhad Moshiri should be taking a look at his central defence options and looking at the upgrades he could make himself.

Omar Colley who currently plays for Sampdoria was linked to a move to Goodison Park early in the transfer window, although nothing since has materialised with no official bids or talks opened with the player, ultimately he would be a fantastic upgrade allowing the club to finally axe Mason Holgate, who has also been linked with moves away this January.

According to Squawka, when you compare both 6 foot 3 Colley and Holgate’s performances for their respective clubs in the league this season, the 29-year-old has made an astonishing 51 more clearances, more interceptions, won 38 more ground duels and won more aerial duels for Sampdoria than Holgate has for Everton.

That only furthers Moshiri’s need to replace his current central defender with the Gambia international.

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Holgate’s discipline in the squad has been questioned too after he received a red card this season for a reckless challenge on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg against Tottenham Hotspur in the last moments of the game, and has been scathed by journalist, David Prentice, who criticised the £64k-per-week flop for his “basic errors” this season, which clearly reflects in his performances, earning Holgate the worst rating of any defender in the squad according to SofaScore.

Everton are currently just four points outside of the relegation zone, with just over a week left in the transfer window and the search for the next manager still in full swing, Moshiri must prioritise making the right signings whilst managing his focus on many areas that need fixing at Goodison Park, to make sure the club can salvage something from their season by finishing comfortably and avoiding a relegation battle.