NafisaEverton are exploring a number of deals ahead of the January transfer window, and one target has already been hailed by former manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Everton have made a slow start to the Premier League season as they currently reside in the bottom half of the table.
As such, David Moyes will be keen to bolster his ranks with more quality when the January window opens in just over six weeks.
The Toffees are already eyeing a move for Troy Parrott, who scored a hat-trick for Ireland on the weekend to send them to the World Cup play-offs.
As well as a striker, a central midfielder and a full-back are on Moyes’ wishlist, and with that said, one of their defensive targets has actually been praised by Ancelotti in the past.
Carlo Ancelotti said Everton transfer target Thierry Small is ‘quality’
Everton News exclusively revealed last week that Moyes is keeping a very close eye on Preston’s Thierry Small.
Small actually came through the ranks at Finch Farm before being sold for a sizable amount as a teenager to Southampton in 2021.
Now at Preston, Small has established himself as one of the best left-backs in the Championship, and Ancelotti knew all along that he had the quality.
Speaking back in December 2020, the former Toffees boss was really impressed by Small’s debut in Everton training.
“Yes, Thierry did well,” Ancelotti said with a smile. “He is really, really young. He is like a kid as he is 16-years-old.
“He has quality, physicality to play with the first-team. He is one of our best players in the Academy so I was pleased to bring him to train with us.
“I think for what he is doing, it was good for him, also.”
What does this all mean for Adam Aznou?
Well, with Everton looking to sign the attack-minded Small, who is a left-back by trade, it doesn’t look great for Adam Aznou’s future at the club.
Aznou arrived from Bayern Munich in the summer after a successful loan spell at Real Valladolid, but has yet to play a single minute.
Moyes doesn’t think Aznou is physically ready for the Premier League, and there has been speculation of a January loan.
“He’s got a bit to do before he’s probably going to be ready for the first team at the moment. But we were aware of that when we brought him in,” Moyes said a little over a month ago.
The current first-choice left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko is out of contract next summer and is currently set to become a free agent.
So clearly there’s set to be some movement either internally or externally on the full-back front over the coming months.
Mustapha Sheidu
Nafisa