Everton Fan View: Replacing Baines is the new priority

When it comes to people who epitomise what the Everton fans want in a player, Leighton Baines is the finest example. For many years he was one of our best players and one who played for the shirt and played with pride, commitment and dedication.

Also, for many years, he was fit almost all of the time. From the 2008/09 season to 2014/15 he played 240 out of 266 Premier League games which works out to be 90% of the games. In the two and a half seasons since then, he’s played 63 out of a possible 114 games, just 55% of the time.

The long injury lay-offs seem to be affecting his form as well. In the times when he has come back from injury, he wasn’t been quite the same player. A fit Leighton Baines right now would be a godsend for Everton. Cuco Martina is currently at left-back and is struggling, even with Baines’ lack of form, he would be a huge improvement.

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At 33 and now seemingly injury prone, it’s increasingly clear that Everton need to buy a high quality left-back to replace him. It’s a shame, but it happens to every player. The club can no longer rely on Baines to produce high quality performances, let alone be on the pitch in the first place.

The new priority

In this January transfer window, getting in a striker was by far Everton’s biggest priority. Now that we have signed Cenk Tosun, that priority has now moved to the left-back position. One of the most underrated aspects of Everton’s struggles with season has been that we have yet to have our strongest full-backs available.

Seamus Coleman is still out following his broken leg and Baines is side-lined. Trying to win games with a youngster at right-back and an average player playing out of position at left-back is hardly a recipe for success. It’ll be a great relief when Everton can once again have Baines and Coleman in the same side.

While it’s hoped that Coleman can return to his old self when he comes back from injury, we need to be looking at a long-term replacement for Baines. Even if he does recapture his best form, his age is enough of a reason to look elsewhere.

He’s been at Everton since 2007, and in that time he has been one of our best and most consistent players. For a long time, he’s also been my favourite player. But all good things must come to an end. It seems unlikely that Everton will sign a left-back in this window, if they don’t, they desperately need to before the start of next season.