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Assessing summer signing Fabian Delph’s Everton career so far

Sam Preston

Sat 12 October 2019 7:45, UK

In an era where youth and potential are transfer buzzwords, Everton went against the grain slightly in snapping up Fabian Delph from Manchester City.

The second international break of the season provides an ideal opportunity to assess his Goodison Park career so far. How’s he getting on?

The background

Sky Sports at the time Everton had paid a relatively modest £9 million to land Delph, and claim he is earning £80,000 every week at Goodison Park.

Speaking to of Delph: “When I look to bring a new player into our squad, the first thing I look for above all the other things is quality and Fabian is a player with high quality.

“But what they can bring to our dressing room is also important and if you can put those two things together then that can only be good for the Club.”

How’s he looked?

After not being in the squad for Everton’s first three games of the season, Delph has played every minute of the Toffees’ last five top flight matches.

The departure of Idrissa Gueye and injury to JP Gbamin has pushed him into regular action anchoring midfield, but Everton have lost four of those matches.

He caught the eye on his debut against Wolves, but it’s tough to shake the suspicion that a midfield axis of Delph and Morgan Schneiderlin is too defensive.

The Verdict

Delph was also brought to the club to offer another dimension; leadership and passion from a player who has represented England and won the Premier League.

But Everton’s run of four losses indicate he has been unable to strengthen Everton’s soft underbelly so far. The onus will be on him to help drag the Toffees out of their current slump, especially with captain Seamus Coleman suspended at present.

It’s too early to say he’s been a miss, but he perhaps should have hit the ground running a little better than he has.