The Liverpool Echo claim today that Enner Valencia could make a surprise return to his parent club West Ham during January.
After failing to start a single Premier League match before December. Valencia started back to back matches against Arsenal and Liverpool before Christmas, he started against Hull on December 30th and stepped off the subs bench to score his first Everton goal against Southampton on Monday to win them three points.
Koeman had initially selected teenage striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin ahead of Valencia against the Saints, but said afterwards: “He (Valencia) can play a lot of different attacking positions and give the manager a lot of possibilities to change systems. It is too early to make a final decision about his future but it was a good signing for us.”
The article suggests Slaven Bilic could ask Everton for Valencia’s return if other striker targets do not come off during the January transfer window.
Enner Valencia was excellent when working in tandem with Diafra Sakho. On his own up front he looked lost. Still, he was far better than Maiga, Jelavic, Emenike, Zaza and Calleri
Valencia did have a brief good connection with Sakho, but he is too lightweight for the PL and either bottles tackles or moans to the referee. Please do not bring him back, particularly as we have Fletcher.
I keep reading rumours about selling him to Leeds, surely this is a joke? He has everything going for him and is not only for the future, but also for inclusion now.
He was considered better than Rashford at Man U but whilst Mourinho is using him tactically, Slaven seems relectant to give Fletcher any serious game time- he can only improve with more experience whereas Valencia seems to get worse.
Do not bring him back!
Fletcher isn’t going to Leeds although I wonder if he might be loaned to Sunderland as part of a transfer deal regarding Defoe ? I like Valencia but he is lightweight and doesn’t score enough goals but he is quick which is something we are lacking.