A winter arrival last season transformed Everton but Carlo Ancelotti is adamant their chances of qualifying for the Champions League do not depend upon this month’s transfer window.
Ancelotti surprised many when the triple Champions League winner joined Everton, who were then languishing in 15th. They finished 2020 in the top four and could go second on Friday, if only for a couple of hours.
Everton’s ambition has proved expensive during Farhad Moshiri’s ownership, with some £500 million ($683.5m) spent on players, but while Ancelotti, unlike some of his predecessors, has an excellent record in the transfer market during his time at Goodison Park he does not see buying as the key to success this season.
The Italian’s flagship signing James Rodriguez will sit out a sixth consecutive game when they host West Ham today while his former Napoli midfielder Allan, another who made an immediate impact, could be sidelined until the end of January.
But Abdoulaye Doucoure has taken on some of Allan’s defensive duties in a run of four consecutive wins while Ben Godfrey, bought from Norwich as a centre-back, has proved a revelation deputising for the injured Lucas Digne at left-back.
Everton’s brilliant December was all the more admirable because of the absentees. Ancelotti wants to strengthen, but by getting key players back and Richarlison is set to return against the Hammers.
“To be in the top four will not depend on the transfer window,” he said. “To be in the top four depends on the quality we are able to show in the second part of the season. That means also to try to avoid the injury that we had in the first part. We had important players out: Digne, Allan, Richarlison.
"If we are able to recover these players, the squad is good enough to be in European position. We have a good squad for this.”
And yet Ancelotti tried to dampen expectations. Everton’s excellence, coupled with the stuttering form of some of the usual suspects, has fostered optimism about belatedly bringing Champions League football to Goodison Park.
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But four points separate eight teams who are between second and ninth and Ancelotti cautioned: “To be in the top four will be more difficult and also to have a fantastic transfer window in January will be difficult because there are really strong top teams.
"In this moment we are pleased to be there but this doesn’t mean we are at the same level as these top teams.”
For Everton, a good transfer window entails keeping those they already have. Ancelotti is confident Digne will sign a new contract. He also believes Robin Olsen will extend his stay on Merseyside. The goalkeeper was borrowed from Roma and Everton hope to agree a permanent deal.
“We are pleased to have him here,” Ancelotti said. “We are going to talk with him and his agent to find a solution for him to be here permanently. It can be for January or in June.” Olsen is likely to be on the bench today, but he has not just been brought in as Jordan Pickford’s understudy. Ancelotti has rotated and used the Sweden international in the win at Leicester.
Injuries have meant that, apart from a goalkeeper, his recent team selections have consisted purely of centre-backs, midfielders and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Lacking some of his usual suppliers, the striker has gone five games without a goal.
“It is true he had less opportunity,” Ancelotti said. “In the last games, we didn’t have a lot of possession, we didn’t put in a lot of crosses because our full-backs were injured and we played a little bit differently. But he is doing well.” So are Everton.
