Everton will have to wait until January to solve their critical right-back problem, but Kieran Trippier now looks like a concrete option.
Ashley Young has already received a red card as he was sent off before the early showers in the 3-0 defeat to Brighton, while Seamus Coleman picked up another injury while on international duty with Ireland.
With Nathan Patterson still recovering from his injuries and Roman Dixon’s call-up against Tottenham likely to be a one-off, Sean Dyche is caught between a rock and a hard place.
It has been made clear that the Toffees want to bring in a new full-back before the transfer window closes on August 30, with Newcastle’s Trippier among the loan targets [David Ornstein].
Dyche and Kevin Thelwell, who Gareth Southgate [Northern Echo] called an “absolute soldier”, could get a second chance to sign him in January, especially after Sky Sports’ news of the Turkish transfer window.
Everton sign Kieran Trippier in January?
Sky Sports News reported on Tuesday (10 September) that four clubs in Turkey have given up hope of signing the veteran defender.
Eddie Howe is said to want to keep him at St James’ Park for the time being.
With Turkish clubs slamming the door again, the Toffees must seize the opportunity to secure Trippier’s signature when the January window opens.
While he will do little to bring down the average of Dyche’s right-backs, his incredible experience could be worth its weight in gold as the Toffees look set for another season of contention.
This battle will be much more difficult if they cannot bring in a new full-back to help Young and Coleman.