David Brooks could help Everton get even more out of James Rodriguez

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Everton are looking at Bournemouth’s David Brooks, according to reports. He’s a player who could help get even more out of James Rodriguez.

The Daily Mail claims Everton are looking at David Brooks. They’re not the only ones, of course, as a string of Premier League clubs may try to sign the player before the domestic transfer deadline.

Bournemouth supposedly want around £40m, too – so this is no easy transfer to pull off.

If Everton did, however, the advantages are clear. It could help them get even more out of star player James Rodriguez.

Freedom

The initial stumbling block when looking at signing Brooks is that he plays on the right. Rodriguez has made that position his own over the first four Premier League games – so why change that?

The answer is that it could offer Everton extra tactical freedom, particularly with Rodriguez. Yes, he’s playing excellently out on the right but his best position remains in the middle.

Since the 2014 World Cup, the Columbian has started the vast majority of games in the middle. 65, per understat, have come in either centre or attacking midfield and his record reads 25 goals, 31 assists in those games. The next highest is the 28 times he’s played from the right.

We’re not saying Everton should move the player immediately – they’re having great success with him on the right, after all. But Brooks’ profile would make it far easier to move Rodriguez between the two roles.

Brooks isn’t an out-and-out winger. He looks to bring the ball inside and create, in similar style to Rodriguez – although, certainly not at the same level.

But Brooks would allow Everton play a similar style – the style that’s working – and have their star player in arguably his most comfortable position. You certainly wouldn’t need to play that way every week but as an option? It’s certainly an exciting one.