Former England striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has backed Everton’s reported plans to allow Ivorian midfielder Jean-Phillippe Gbamin to leave the club on loan in January.
The ex-Mainz man has been blighted by injury nightmares since joining Everton in a £25m deal in 2019 as a replacement for Senegal international Idrissa Gueye, who joined Paris Saint-Germain in the same summer for a fee just over that which the Toffees paid for Gbamin.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Agbonlahor believes the 25-year-old has the quality to potentially replace ball-winning midfielder Allan in the heart of Ancelotti’s setup if required.
Asked on his views over a short-term loan move for the Ivorian, Agbonlahor said:
He needs to get himself out on loan, play some games and then when you come back you could get yourself back into the squad.
He could be a good replacement for Allan because for me the jury is still out.
Allan has got quality but in the last few games he has been found out a bit and he needs to get back to how he was playing in the last few games.
Largely as a consequence of repeated injury woes, Gbamin has been confined to just two senior competitive appearances for the Toffees since he signed in August 2019.
Gbamin faces heavy competition in Ancelotti’s midfield, though. Along with Allan, Everton also signed former Watford man Abdoulaye Doucoure this year and also have the likes of Andre Gomes and Tom Davies on their books.
Read Everton Verdict
Injury anguish and strong competition in midfield could have shattered Gbamin’s confidence.
In that sense, Agbonlahor is right to agree with Everton’s plans to let Gbamin try to secure good form and regular minutes out on loan. It may well be a decision which serves as a turning point in the future of the Ivorian midfielder.
