What will Tyrique George bring to Everton?

Everton finally did some business, as they capped off the January transfer window by signing winger Tyrique George on loan from Chelsea.

The agreement includes an option to buy, and Everton have bolstered their ranks with the acquisition of another exciting young talent.

A winger was not necessarily a priority going into the transfer window, though an extra wide option certainly would not have been sniffed at. However, Jack Grealish’s (likely) season-ending injury has exacerbated the requirement for a winger to come in.

And, thankfully, it seems Everton are finally going to address a huge, burning need in the squad: Pace. George is not lightning quick, but he is certainly faster than any of Everton’s other wide options. He can play across the forward line, and though he is at his best on the left, that level of versatility is always a bonus.

George has played 37 times for Chelsea, making 15 starts. In his 1,644 minutes on the pitch, he has contributed to 12 goals (six goals, six assists).

In contrast, Tyler Dibling — Everton’s other young winger, who has struggled to establish himself in the first team (fairly or unfairly) — has played 2,873 senior minutes and provided six goal contributions (four goals, two assists); none of those goal involvements have yet come for the Toffees.

Dibling and George are both highly talented youngsters with vast potential, and it really is exciting to see Everton add more young talent to their squad. Moyes may well have to get out of his own way in certain respects, though. He must utilise these talents over the back half of the season. Even with the Toffees pushing for Europe, Dibling and George are a glimpse at a potential future and must be nurtured.

But what else will George bring to Everton?

One thing is clear: He loves to shoot. A frustration for many Evertonians this season has been Everton’s forward players not taking on enough shots. In fact, only five Premier League teams have had fewer shots than the Toffees this season, and Moyes’s men rank only above lowly Burnley for shots on target. Only four top-flight teams have scored fewer goals than Everton.

At the risk of channeling Michael Owen’s punditry, if you don’t shoot, you hardly ever score… George could provide a tonic to that. George averages 2.2 shots per 90 in all competitions this season, which is more than any of Everton’s other wide players this term.

As this excellent video from Cai Jones details, George is fearless when it comes to getting shots off. He is always looking for an opportunity to open up and have a pop at goal, and that is something Everton have sorely missed this term.

George is, of course, nowhere near the finished product. And he is not going to provide the creativity of Grealish. However, his direct approach and turn of pace could be a breath of fresh air to this Everton team, which — especially when it is forced to chase games — does look decidedly one-paced.

An extra full-back would have been a much-needed boost this window, but as it is, both full-back areas will have to be addressed in the summer.

But with the George deal including an option to buy, if he is given a chance by Moyes, and if he takes it, then having the England youth international on Everton’s books is a tantalising prospect.

 

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