David Moyes did not hide his determination to reshape Everton’s attack before kick off the Premier League season.
His team looked flat throughout the Premier League summer series in the United States, undergoing defeats against Bournemouth and West Ham, as well as a draw against Manchester United.
With Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom returning to their parents’ clubs, Moyes prioritized the signature of a new large player who can slip directly into his first eleven.
So far, there have been arrivals in other areas.
The move of Carlos Alcaraz de Flamengo’s loan was made permanent, while the club also obtained the signing of 27 million pounds sterling by striker Thierno Barry de Villarreal – although Moyes warned that the attacker will need time to adapt.
In addition, Bayern Munich’s left back, Adam Aznou joined an agreement of 7.8 million pounds sterling.
However, Everton has also undergone frustration on the market. Kenny Tete renewed with Fulham, while an offer for Malick Fofana from Lyon failed.
The talks for Real Sociedad in Takefusa Kubo were just as problematic, his liberation clause of 50 million pounds Sterling proving prohibitive. Everton has also shown an interest in Jack Grenish, although an agreement seems complicated at this point.
In the midst of these challenges, a name has become a potentially transformative addition, alongside Tyler Dibling and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, which could be on the way to the Merseyside, according to the most recent relationships.
Everton interested in the generic option
Zuriko Davitashvili, the 24-year-old Georgian winger currently playing for Saint-Etienne, quickly attracts attention.
Like Iliman Ndiaye before him, Davitashvili shone in Ligue 1 with his mixture of direct attack game and creative spark.
Last season, he produced nine goals and eight assists in 33 appearances, while amazing 46 caps and six goals for Georgia.
Analyst Ben Mattinson described it as a “powerful finisher”, a trait that would certainly appeal to Moyes, who needs players capable of providing a final product.
Davitashvili can play on the left, right or in the middle, giving Everton the kind of versatility that they have been missing since the loss of Harrison and Lindstrom.
It is estimated at around 12 million euros (10 million pounds sterling), according to football transfers, an Everton price could achieve realistically even in their financial constraints.
According to Foot Mercato, the Toffees are among those who wish to take a step, although Saint-Etienne declared it not for sale, frustrating the player, who would be determined to test himself at a higher level.
Rennes, Strasbourg, Seville and Mönchengladbach are also all credited of interest, but convincing Saint-Etienne to sell will take negotiations. If the toffs can do exactly that, they would be in a real treat …
Davitashvili comparison in Ndiaye
Like Ndiaye, who arrived from the Ligue 1 Marseille team last summer in a move of 16.9 million pounds sterling and contributed nine premier goals, Davitashvili seems ready to use for the House of Moyes’ style, with its ability to deeply and create in tight spaces.
The parallels between Davitashvili and Ndiaye are striking.
Both are left -handed who can also play in the center, and both have a proven Ligue 1 record.
Statistically, Davitashvili in fact exceeded the production of Ndiaye last season, recording 17 goal involvement (nine goals, eight assists) compared to the nine of Ndiaye.
When you dig in their figures, subtle differences emerge.
According to FBREF, Ndiaye offers more progressive races by 90 (3.19) and progressive passes for 90 (3.07) than Davitashvili (2,19 and 2.36 respectively), which suggests that Ndiaye is more dynamic in the game through third parties.
Davitashvili, on the other hand, is more a final-third contributor, offering higher shooting actions by 90 (3.85 against 2.41) and more shooting on the target by 90 (0.78 against 0.56).
Their final efficiency also varies. Ndiaye won 42.9% of her efforts on Target, compared to 35.3% for Davitashvili, although Davitashvili takes more blows.
Its success rate is slightly lower (78.6% against 81.8% of Ndiaye), which suggests more risks in its passing decisions.
In terms of defenders in UN-V-UN, Ndiaye again has the advantage with a success rate of 47.6% control, compared to 37.4% for Davitashvili.
Moyes can see Davitashvili as a player who completes, rather than directly, Ndiaye.
Where Ndiaye exceeds to progress the game through the third of the middle, Davitashvili could prosper in advanced areas, offering a clinical advantage in front of the goal and adding variety in the way Everton breaks down the teams.
His positional versatility, as well as proven history of score and assistance from wide positions, would make him an immediate competitor for a starting role.
The Everton recruitment team was responsible for identifying players who can adapt quickly, facing physical football and filling several shortcomings.
Davitashvili, with the same history of Ligue 1 as Ndiaye and a clear ambition to play at a higher level, corresponds to this brief.
If Everton can negotiate a way to pass the resistance of Saint-Etienne, it could happen to Goodison Park like another hidden gem, according to the traces of Ndiaye to help rebuild an attack that seriously needs fresh energy.
