Why Everton should try and win the race for Arkadiusz Milik

According to The Sun, Everton and Tottenham are set to go head-to-head in a transfer tug-of-war over out-of-favour Napoli striker Arkadiusz Milik in January. The Polish hitman is out of contract at the Stadio San Paolo next summer and has been left out of Napoli’s Serie A and Champions League squads for the 2020-21 campaign.

Juventus have also been credited with an interest in the 26-year-old, but they want him on a free transfer. Milik, though, is growing impatient and remains keen to secure a move away from Napoli in January, thus putting the likes of Everton and Tottenham in pole position. (h/t Sun)

Profile

Arkadiuz Milik completed his development at Rozwoj Katowice in Poland before turning professional with Gornik Zabrze in the top-flight. He then moved abroad with Bayer Leverkusen in January 2013 but failed to impress, failing to find the net in 8 appearances during the second half of the 2012-13 campaign.

The 26-year-old scored twice in 20 appearances on loan at Augsburg in the following campaign before being loaned out to Ajax in the Eredivisie. Milik bagged an astonishing 23 goals in 33 appearances in his debut season in Holland, which paved the way for a permanent move to Ajax in 2015. 

Milik ended his career at Ajax with impressive returns of 47 goals and 21 assists in 75 appearances before completing a move to Napoli in 2017. The Pole has since scored 48 goals in 122 outings for the Partenopei in all competitions, despite not being a regular starter for the Italian outfit.

The attacker made his senior debut for Poland back in 2012. He has scored 15 goals in 54 appearances so far, representing his nation at UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Milik would add more depth to Everton’s attack

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has spearheaded Everton’s stellar start to the 2020-21 PL campaign with 7 goals in 6 games so far. The England international has been ably supported by the likes of Richarlison and marquee summer signing James Rodriguez in front of goal. 

Everton will rely heavily on their influential front three to propel them to a top-six finish in the Premier League this season. But the Toffees will surely need significant goal contributions from some of their key squad players in the coming months if they are to go toe-to-toe with the elite clubs in the division.  

The likes of Bernard, Alex Iwobi, and Gylfi Sigurdsson just haven’t done enough over the past 12 months. Everton’s lack of quality alternatives could, therefore, jeopardise their hopes of securing a much-anticipated return to Europe. Calvert-Lewin remains the only feasible option up top, with Moise Kean out on loan and Cenk Tosun not featuring in the manager’s plans.

To put things into perspective, Everton ideally need another out-and-out striker to provide Calvert-Lewin with some quality cover and competition. Arkadiusz Milik certainly ticks the box as a bonafide goalscorer at the highest level in Europe, while his past experience of working under Carlo Ancelotti should make it easier for the Pole to settle down at Goodison Park.

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Verdict

Everton can, of course, wait for Milik to see out his contract at Napoli and sign him on a free transfer next summer. However, it would be a real shame if the Pole ends up joining some other club on a cut-price deal in January. The Toffees just can’t afford to let this opportunity pass by. 

The 26-year-old is very well versed with Ancelotti’s methods and still has several years remaining in his prime. With that in mind, it is an absolute no-brainer for Everton to go all out in their pursuit of the Napoli star if they are really determined to break the top-six lock this season.