---
title: "Everton: Blues eyeing up centre-back in January transfer window"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-january-transfer-targets-centre-back/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Everton"
published: "2021-12-26T10:15:51Z"
modified: "2021-12-26T10:15:51Z"
---

# Everton: Blues eyeing up centre-back in January transfer window

**Everton are prioritising the signing of a new centre-back in the [January transfer window](https://www.givemesport.com/1754870-january-transfer-window-2022-when-does-it-open-when-does-it-close-and-which-players-are-going-to-move) next month, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.**

### The Lowdown: Centre-back issues

The Blues are in a hugely disappointing run of form and it hasn’t been helped by a number of injuries in the centre of defence.

[Yerry Mina](https://www.premierinjuries.com/injury-table.php) is the most high-profile current absentee in that area of the pitch, but while Michael Keane has made [17 Premier League starts](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/31/Show/England-Everton) this season, Mason Holgate (five) is next up in terms of starts, with Ben Godfrey (14) [often playing at full-back](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/287504/MatchStatistics/Ben-Godfrey).

It highlights the need for a new centre-back to come in next month, and it appears as though that could happen.

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### The Latest: Journalist makes transfer claim

Speaking to [GIVEMESPORT](https://www.givemesport.com/1808147-everton-transfer-news-toffees-identify-key-position-they-want-to-fill-in-january), O’Rourke claimed that Rafael Benitez is eyeing up a central defender in January to help revive Everton’s fortunes.

He outlined: “I know Everton and Newcastle are both in the market for centre-halves in January. That’s the key position that they want to fill in the January transfer window.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”383608″\]

### The Verdict: Makes perfect sense

While the thought of relegation for Everton still seems unfathomable, they must make sure their current situation doesn’t get a whole lot worse.

They look weak at centre-back, [conceding 29 goals](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/table) in 17 league games in 2021/22, so the need for reinforcements is plain to see.

Bringing in an experienced head who can fill in alongside Keane, or in a back three, could help to plug the leak at the back and steer Everton away from the drop zone.

***In other news, some Everton fans fuming after a revelation emerged. Read more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-fc-news/rafa-benitez-farhad-moshiri-premier-league/).***