Everton Monitoring Guela Doue, The Perfect Right-Back Solution

Everton have been linked with a move to sign Strasbourg right-back Guela Doue ahead of the summer transfer window, and he could be the perfect option for the Toffees. 

Signing a right-back is likely to be a major priority for Everton this summer. Seamus Coleman has now departed, while Nathan Patterson's future appears to be in doubt following a difficult few years for the Scottish international. 

The profile of a right-back in Everton's current system is certainly not in line with the modern era, and David Moyes might have to consider being a little more adventerous.

Doue could be the answer. A right-back who likes to get forward, who is also comfortable defensively. Reports from The Athletic have claimed Doue is a player Everton admire. Doue is a player Everton admire

Doue is a 23-year-old right-back currently with Strasbourg, and he might be one of the few players that Chelsea don't poach from the Ligue 1 club. 

The Ivory Coast international predominantly plays as a right-back, but can also be utilised as a right-sided centre-back in a back three. Doue has also been deployed as a wing-back at times, showing his versalitity and how well-rounded he is. 

Doue is the most well-rounded of right-backs that Everton have been linked with so far. As mentioned, he's comfortable being a creative, attacking threat, while he's also strong in duels and in one-vs-one situations.

Only a handful of full-backs in Ligue 1 last season averaged more assists per 90 minutes than Doue, who averaged 0.26. The 23-year-old is also a strong defender to go alongside that, averaging 6.45 duels won per 90 minutes.

Doue likes to progress the ball from deep, more often than not through passes, rather than carrying or taking players on. Doue looks to create opportunities and progressive actions via through balls, producing 0.17 per 90 minutes, putting him in the 95th percentile in Ligue 1. 

Doue's defensive ability, mixed with what he shows going forward, is why he could be the ideal defender for Everton. Doue is a strong duel winner and is also very competent in the air for his size, rarely muscle off the ball in a tackle.

Everton need to find a solution that is strong going forward but also defensively. Someone like Raoul Bellanova offers more of an attacking threat that Everton should maybe looking for, but you'd be sacrificing a lot defensively.

Doue is the ideal balance. 

Pleasing everyone at Everton won't be easy. Moyes is clearly a pragmatic manager, thinking more about the defensive side of the game than attacking. 

When targeting a new right-back, to have everyone on board, they will need to fill multiple criteria. 

The board will likely want a player with future sell-on value, someone who is young but also capable of making an immediate impact, and a player who would help us progress our style of play. Doue ticks those boxes.

Moyes will be looking for a player who is sound defensively but can also offer a little more going forward, someone who has amassed experience at senior level, and to put it simply, a 'strong lad'. Doue ticks those boxes.