The official awards at Everton will be given out at the end of the season, but we thought we’d take a look at who has a strong case for being Everton’s Player of the Year.
There have been a lot of positives for manager Carlo Ancelotti to take away this summer. Any realistic hopes of a top four finish faded a couple of months ago, however, there is a clear base to build upon next season, especially if the club is ambitious in the transfer window.
Here are the players who should be considered for the award.
James Rodriguez
The signing of James Rodriquez from Real Madrid last summer was a real statement acquisition from Ancelotti. The fact he was able to attract the former World Cup star said a lot about his appeal as a manager.
Rodriguez has not disappointed on Merseyside. He has adapted well to the Premier League and he still has the desire to deliver his best football, something many pundits questioned following his move to Everton.
The Colombian international has been directly involved in over 10 goals this season. He has been a big part of the Toffees’ attacking threat. The 29-year-old looks committed to remaining at the club, which is a great sign. A strong end to the season from Rodriguez and Everton can hopefully see them qualifying for Europe. A look at the football on tv tonight shows their remaining games over the rest of the season as they look to finish strongly.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is Everton’s top goalscorer this season by some distance. At the time of writing, the Englishman had scored over 20 goals in all competitions.
Under Ancelotti, Calvert-Lewin has developed into an excellent finisher. Back in September, he was named the Premier League Player of the Month after scoring in five successive games. The 24-year-old may still be open to improvement so he has an exciting future at the club.
Calvert-Lewin made his debut for England back in October. He has since scored four goals for his country and has a great chance of making the Three Lions’ squad for the European Championships this summer.
Michael Keane
Another player who has impressed this season for the Toffees is Michael Keane. He is now showing exactly why the club splashed out £25 million for his services back in 2017.
Keane has been very consistent this season and there is a strong case to be made for saying he has been Ancelotti’s best defender. He has cut out his mistakes and he is showing all the qualities you’d look for in a centre-back.
The good news is Keane signed a contract extension earlier this season to stay at Goodison Park until 2025. He will hopefully play a big role in helping the club continue their path towards the top end of the table.
Let’s hope all three of the above players continue to shine next season and that the Player of the Year award at the end of the 2021/22 campaign is even more competitive.