Everton showing interest in "explosive" star to be a huge Harrison upgrade
2025 will be a much-needed year of mass-change at Everton.
Last Sunday, the Toffees waved goodbye to Goodison Park, their home since 1892, following a 2-0 victory over Southampton, with Iliman Ndiaye the scorer of both goals.
Meanwhile, this year, David Moyes has returned as manager, 12 years after departing for Manchester United, while the Friedkin Group have taken over as the new owners, bringing to an end the miserable Farhad Moshiri era.
So, before moving into their brand-new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, will the Toffees sign one of Britain’s most highly-rated wingers?
Everton targeting a historic move
According to a report by Paul Joyce, of The Times, Everton are eyeing up a move for Ben Doak this summer to bolster their options in the wide areas.
The journalist claims that the Toffees are ‘showing an interest’ in the Scotland international, as Moyes plots a controversial move for the flanker.
The 19-year-old spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough from… wait for it… Liverpool, which would certainly make this a historic move, as the table below outlines.
Abel Xavier
2002
Nick Barmby
2000
Dave Hickson
1959
Tony McNamara
1957
John Heydon
1949
Gary Ablett
1992
Peter Beardsley
1991
Alan Harper
1983
Kevin Sheedy
1982
David Johson
1982
Johnny Morrissey
1962
Jimmy Payne
1956
As the table shows, not since Gary Ablett 33 years ago have Everton bought a player from Liverpool, but could that be about to change?
How Ben Doak would improve Everton
Aside from the trio of relegated clubs, Everton are the lowest scorers in this season’s Premier League with just 41, so they certainly require more attacking firepower.
Back in March, Moyes stated that he required more “assists and goals” from wingers Jesper Lindstrøm and Jack Harrison, and the latter duly responded to this call to arms, opening the scoring against Wolves at Molineux the next day.
Nevertheless, this remains Harrison’s only goal of the season; his most recent before that came against Tottenham all the way back on 3 February 2024, underlining that this is a department in which the Blues could upgrade.
So, let’s asses how he compares to target Doak.
Appearances
37
24
Minutes
2,091
1,789
Goals
1
3
Assists
1
7
Shots on target %
25%
51.9%
Goals – xG
-2.5
-1.4
Big chances created
6
7
Progressive carries
71
134
Attempted take-ons
74
99
Take-on success %
31.1%
35.4%
Carries into penalty area
16
80
Shot-creating actions
56
82
Goal-creating actions
4
11
Touches per 90
42
47
Average Sofascore Rating
6.69
7.03
As the table outlines, even though he played around 300 fewer minutes, largely due to a season-ending thigh injury suffered in early-March, Doak’s statistics are universally more impressive than Harrison’s, with the caveat that he was playing in the EFL Championship which, according to Global Football Rankings, is the 11th strongest league in the world.
Doak was, without question, one of the best dribblers in the Championship this season, as highlighted in the table.
Minutes
1,778
270th
Progressive carries
134
8th
Attempted take-ons
99
26th
Carries into penalty area
80
2nd
As the table below emphasises, despite limited minutes, Doak’s dribbling prowess came to the fore his season, with only Burnley’s Jaidon Anthony, who played almost 1,900 more minutes, registering more carries into the opposition penalty area.
This has earned the Scotland international rave reviews, with journalist Henry Winter labelling him a “huge prospect”, former Liverpool Danny Murphy midfield described him as a “super quick, explosive winger,” while Ange Postecoglou, who gave him his senior debut at Celtic, called him a “fantastic kid”.
Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout believes he is an ‘old fashioned winger’ who is ‘capable’ of playing on both flanks, and possess ‘elite technical abilities’.
Thus, it is indisputable that Doak is a massive talent who would improve Everton.
Whether they’d be able to do a deal with Liverpool to secure his services is another question entirely!
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