For David Moyes and Everton this summer was arguably the most exciting and certainly the most fruitful transfer window of the Scot’s 10 year spell at Goodison Park.
Yet the transfer merry-go-round was not without it’s frustrations for Moyes who was preventend by FIFA from completing a loan deal for Club Brugge midfielder Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe. The Belgium international was set to be a last minute capture for the Blues who, despite completing the relevant paper work on time, missed out on Ofoe’s services after FIFA failed to ratify the deal.
You might expect that having already agreed a deal with Club Brugge, that the central midfielder would be biding his time until a January move materialises. Wrong.
Brugge General Manager, Vincent Mannaert, has denied that a future deal has been negotiated and Everton will have to start from the beginning if they wish to sign Ofoe.
It may have been a last ditch attempt to bring in a new face but Moyes did not pursue Ofoe to merely make up the numbers. Manchester City skipper, Vincent Kompany was quick to praise his compatriot who looks as if he has a lot to offer Everton should he arrive in January.
With Marouane Fellaini playing in a more advanced role, Darron Gibson and Leon Osman are the only natural, senior centre mids. Neither is what you would describe as a ball winner and given that the Toffees have increased their attacking options, such a player will be important.
At 6ft Ofoe is a physically imposing player who’s combination of strength and pace make him will suited to break up play in a deeper role. Equally, like all good holding midfielders, the 23-year-old uses the ball well and you can expect him to ‘keep things ticking over’ in a similar manner to Gibson.
There is more to Ofoe’s game than protecting the back four. The three cap international has admitted he likes to get forward and like Fellaini he is effective in a more advanced role as well. Unlike his Belgium team mate he is more athletic and a threat when running with the ball. Versatility has been a prominent feature of Moyes’ summer signings and the fact that Ofoe can play deep and more attacking can only be a good thing.
The one negative is that there are questions marks over the Anderlecht youth products attitude. Highly rated as a youngster he move to Hamburg in 2008 and failed to step up in the Bundesliga. However his return to Belgium has seen him recapture some form. Doubts will remain over his temprement but his consistency for Brugge would suggest his attitude problems are behind him.
It remains to be seen whether Moyes will get his man come January but it is a deal that the Everton boss will at least want to try and rectify. Versatility, physicality and technical ability make him an attractive prospect and at 23 he still has time to blossom into a very good player and could prove to be a shrewd signing.
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