Everton-linked Florian Grillitsch potentially offers Frank Lampard a rather different type of transfer target. Over the weekend, the Blues were linked with a move for Burnley’s James Tarkowski, but while the Clarets stalwart is a familiar face to Evertonians who will be well versed in how he plays the game and what attributes he offers, Grillitsch is a somewhat more curious proposition.
The Daily Mail reported that with the 26-year-old out of contract with his German Bundesliga club Hoffenheim this summer, the Austrian international is appealing to a clutch of Premier League outfits including Everton, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Leeds United. The article states that the Yorkshire side’s apparent interest comes amid Grillitsch being identified as a possible replacement for England international Kalvin Phillips who has been linked with a move across the Pennines to Manchester United.
That in itself is intriguing enough given that 12 of Grillitsch’s appearances so far this season – including his last seven outings – have come as a centre-back rather than a holding midfielder. His ability to fulfil both roles are demonstrated when using Comparisonator to see how Grillitsch’s displays this season stack up against Premier League centre-backs given that the site calculates that 94% of his performances in the current campaign have come when operating in the heart of defence.
