Davy Klaassen joined Everton last summer for £23m and promised so much, as a player who had been an integral part of Ajax’s run to the 2017 Europa League final. His story since has been one of decline, and indefinite exile.
Though recent rumours of Klaassen moving to Besiktas appear to have faded away, all the signs point to Klaassen being ousted sooner rather than later, but it was all looking very different just twelve months ago. With Everton’s former designated ‘number ten’ Ross Barkley injured, and stalling with apparent petulance on a contract extension, the Goodison outfit needed a new link between midfield and attack.
Klaassen appeared to tick all the boxes; he was mobile, a good passer and could exploit gaps in opposition defences. Though Feyenoord won the Eredivisie title in 2017, Klaassen’s influence in the Europa League did not go unnoticed. It was in that competition he most notably showed flashes of what he could do for Everton, when he combined with Rooney to set up Idrissa Gueye’s killer goal (Everton’s second) against Hajduk Split, in last August’s final qualifying round first leg match.
In the Premier League, Klaassen was initially part of Koeman’s first team plans. He played an hour against Stoke City on the opening day of 2017/18, but found himself replaced by the more combative Tom Davies, with Everton under the dreaded cosh from the Potters after Wayne Rooney’s first half opener. A thirty-minute cameo followed, in Everton’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City, before he played forty-four ineffective minutes in a one-sided 3-0 home reverse to Tottenham.
After playing the full ninety in a 3-0 EFL Cup win over Sunderland on 20 September, Klaassen’s Everton career began to tank drastically. He would play just 117 further minutes of league football for Everton, and – perhaps understandably – failed to truly influence matches when afforded some vital playing time. With his continued omission throughout 2017/18 came increasing confusion. Inevitably, a flurry of rumours followed, as to why Klaassen could not get a game. Naturally, the most popular belief was that his performances in training were sub-par enough to even keep him off the bench, even to the benefit of a far less experienced midfielder in the shape of Beni Baningime.
Ultimately, Klaassen’s days are numbered; the Toffees are in dire need of defensive reinforcement, and anyone who clicks here: https://www.sportingindex.com/spread-betting/football/domestic-premier-league, will note that Everton’s buy price to go down is much higher than that for the club to win a first league title since 1987. So too must there be changes in midfield, with a grotesque number of ‘invisible’ midfielders on a sizeable wage. On the evidence of last season, Klaassen falls into that category with sickening comfort.
With an apparent emphasis on bringing young talent through the ranks, and Silva’s penchant for playing with two holding midfielders, Klaassen’s chances of finally forging himself a career at Everton appear remote at best. As a closer fit to Silva’s counter-attacking style, Tom Davies will remain a priority over Klaassen. The latest indications are that he will be a foil to fellow youngster Ademola Lookman, whose pace and aggression on the flanks will provide Davies with an outlet that was so badly lacking last season.
After a stellar loan period with Nottingham Forest, even Kieran Dowell could be part of Silva’s first team plans, with some Evertonians comparing him favourably to Leicester’s expensive recent acquisition, James Maddison. To be successful, all clubs have to strike a balance, and this season, the powers at Everton must wield the axe and buy shrewdly to do so. Quite simply, unless Marco Silva has a complete change of tactics in mind ahead of the season opener at Wolves on 11 August, Klaassen should start looking elsewhere for suitors.
