Marco Silva is surely fighting for his future as Everton manager following a dismal run of form in the Premier League.

Expectations were high in the summer when the Portuguese was announced as Sam Allardyce’s successor. Working alongside new director of football, Marcel Brands, Silva secured plenty of promising transfers that had the Goodison faithful hopeful of a strong campaign. However, after a decent start, their form has curtailed since the Merseyside derby defeat at Anfield.

The former Watford boss is now fighting for his future as further poor showings in the remainder of the campaign could force owner Farhad Moshiri to find a new gaffer. Should Silva manage to save his job, he simply must attempt to solve Everton’s leaky defence. The Toffees have conceded far too many poor goals during the current campaign which cannot go on.

One man Silva should turn to is Real Betis rock – Marc Bartra. Valued at £19.8m by Transfermarkt, the former Barcelona man returned to Spain following a forgettable spell with Borussia Dortmund in January 2018 and was named Betis’ player of the year despite playing just half a season. The 28-year-old has once again been a pivotal player for his side and one of the most consistent performers in La Liga.

The former Spain international loves to get stuck in, averaging an impressive 2.6 tackles per game, but also reads the game expertly, allowing him to make 1.7 interceptions on average. Bartra is also decent in the air, winning 2.2 aerial duels per game, making him the ideal man to solve Everton’s defensive woes. As well as his defensive abilities, the Spaniard also thrives with the ball at his feet, completing 89% of his passes in La Liga meaning he is ideal for Silva’s system on Merseyside (WhoScored).

If Everton want to secure a return to Europe next season, splashing the cash on Bartra would be a wise move.

Everton fans, thoughts?