With a few weeks until they kick off their season against Chelsea, Everton look to be making moves once more in the transfer market.
So far, the only arrival has been a free one, with James Tarkowski being confirmed as a new Blues star at the beginning of the month after his departure from Burnley upon the expiry of his contract. And, recent reports have suggested that one of his former Clarets teammates could be about to join him at Goodison Park.
The Athletic earlier in the week initially reported that Everton were interested in signing Maxwel Cornet after his side's relegation to the Championship. It has been suggested there is a release clause in the player's deal in that eventuality, meaning he could secure a return to the Premier League sooner rather than later.
READ MORE: Frank Lampard might just have been handed two new midfield and full-back options
READ MORE: Yerry Mina fumes at Arsenal as Dele Alli booed in Everton defeat
DON'T MISS:Everton new stadium evolution continues as latest incredible Bramley-Moore Dock footage released
Everton transfer news LIVE - Anass Salah-Eddine interest, Armando Broja claim, Jean-Clair Todibo eyed
Frank Lampard might just have been handed two new midfield and full-back options
It's no secret that Frank Lampard and Kevin Thelwell would certainly be interested in improving the creativity and goal threat of their side, especially now that Richarlison has left the club to join Tottenham Hotspur in a big-money deal. He's regularly been one of the squad's top scorers in recent campaigns, and his influence will need to be replaced as efficiently as possible.
And, looking at the numbers from last season, you can clearly see why Cornet might be someone to fit into that mould.
Firstly, in terms of the most simple metric of "goals", the 25-year-old managed to bag nine in 26 Premier League games in 2021/22. Richarlison claimed ten - while Anthony Gordon, Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend combined to find the back of the net 12 times between them.
But the underlying numbers behind that impressive figure in front of goal, when you consider he was playing in a struggling Burnley side, are also worth making note of. His goals-per-90 minutes figure of 0.46 is higher than any Everton wide player managed last term.
He also had a goals-per-shot ratio of 0.20, which ranked inside the top ten across the Premier League. Outscoring his xG by 2.3 in the process, this is clearly a player who was efficient with his chances in front of goal when they came his way.
Consistent goals from the wide areas is something that supporters certainly have pinpointed as an area for improvement for a number of years. Richarlison's exit only exacerbates that issue, but perhaps Cornet would be able to at least step up in some capacity.
In terms of creating chances for his teammates, the 25-year-old perhaps does lag a little bit behind in terms of last season's numbers in particular. He made less key passes per 90 minutes than any of Everton's wide players, completed less passes into the final third and had fewer shot creating actions than any of his potential new teammates across 2021/22.
But this is where some mitigating factors need to be considered. Cornet only played just over half of Burnley's Premier League minutes last season as he missed several matches scattered throughout the campaign.
Even when he was on the pitch, the winger had less touches of the ball than any of his counterparts at Everton, meaning that he really had less opportunity to create chances for his teammates. Given Burnley's fate at the end of the campaign too, it's fair to assume that they weren't exactly a consistent attacking threat either.
And, of course, his versatility has to come into account here as well. The former Lyon man would likely be considered a winger by many, but to solely label him in that position would be wrong.
For Burnley last season he played as a centre-forward, a second striker, on both flanks and even as a left back. No doubt that ability to adapt to different positions with ease will be a strength when Lampard and Thelwell come to assess the potential signing, but it probably means that his sheer statistics in a number of areas don't really do him justice.
The reality that Everton find themselves in is that a like-for-like replacement for Richarlison is unlikely to fall into their laps. Perhaps they will need to fill in for his influence in the squad with a number of additions across the front line.
However Cornet fits into a very interesting mould. He's still relatively young for his position, he's clearly adapted to the Premier League well enough, he's a nightmare for defenders to deal with in front of goal and potentially partnered with a mobile attacking unit at Everton he could take himself to the next level.
The issue for the Blues will lie within the structure of the deal. Their financial restrictions, despite the sale of Richarlison, make negotiations tricky in that sense.
But, if the right price can be found, then Lampard and Thelwell might have taken the first step into Everton's life beyond Richarlison.
READ NEXT:
-
Frank Lampard explains formation approach against Arsenal as Everton search for a 'number six'
-
Frank Lampard comments on Kevin Thelwell relationship and Everton transfer talks
- Abdoulaye Doucoure reveals Everton new contract 'position' and makes admission over future
- Record-breaking Everton transfer collapsed in 'high farce' due to 'financial lust'
