Everton look to shore up midfield with Man United outcast

They may have got off to their best ever Premier League start, but Saturday’s 5-0 drubbing away at Chelsea highlighted Everton’s need for more defensive reinforcements. One man could help solve that dilemma is Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The Toffees defeat on Saturday meant that Ronald Koeman’s men have now won just one of their last six Premier League games, though their excellent start to the campaign sees them maintain a spot in the top seven.

But the recent run will be a worry for the Goodison Park faithful, and it now seems some January additions are required if the blue half of Merseyside are to maintain a shot at qualifying for Europe next season.

And Schweinsteiger looks certain to be available in the mid-season window, due to his continued exile at Man United under Jose Mourinho.

The German World Cup winner is yet to play a single minute of football for the Old Trafford outfit this season, and has been made to train with the reserves for much of the campaign.

The former Bayern Munich ace has recently returned to training with the first-team, but nobody would be surprised if the 32-year-old were to move on in January.

His contract runs out in 2018, but United and Mourinho would seemingly be happy to sell on the defensive-midfielder at the earliest possible opportunity.

With Everton keeping just three clean sheets this term, a signing of Schweinsteiger’s quality would be welcomed by the blue half of Stanley Park.

Gareth Barry has missed just 64 minutes of Premier League football this season, but the ex-England international turns 36 in February and would arguably appreciate a helping hand in the middle of the pitch.

Meanwhile, Idrissa Gueye has proved to be a fine addition to the Blues, and his absence was fully exposed by Chelsea at the weekend.

The ex-Aston Villa man missed the game through suspension, and five yellow cards from just 10 Premier League games highlights how his midfield enforcer role comes at a cost.

However, should they sign-up Schweinsteiger, Everton will then be able to call upon one of the most experienced men in the game as a high-quality alternative.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing