The 4th Official
·17 June 2023
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Yahoo sportsThe 4th Official
·17 June 2023
In a recent tweet, renowned journalist Phil Hay stated that Everton want to re-sign Leeds United keeper Joel Robles this summer. It has been claimed that the Toffees are hoping to bring the Spanish custodian back to Goodison Park ahead of the new campaign.
The 32-year-old served as a sporadic presence at Elland Road as he often had to be content with a spot on the bench. Robles played in just six matches for the Whites last season, shipping in 18 goals in the process across all competitions.
The Getafe-born sensation deserves a pat on the back for averaging 2.0 clearances and 5.5 long balls per 90 minutes in Premier League football. However, he has to improve his ball distribution after he made only 42.2% of his attempted passes in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
Robles is under contract at the West Yorkshire club until the end of this month which could open the door for Everton to re-sign him when he becomes a free agent later this summer.
LEEDS, ENGLAND – MAY 28: Spurs player Dejan Kulusevski challenges Leeds goalkeeper Joel Robles during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road on May 28, 2023 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Robles can be a safe pair of hands in goal when he is playing with confidence on the pitch. Standing at 1.97m, he can use his strong frame to dominate his penalty area and usually clears his lines when needed. Robles is a good handler of the ball as well and has got decent reflexes that help make a few solid saves at the back.
However, the Spanish talent has to figure out a way to improve his passing accuracy if he wants to become a regular starter in Premier League football.
We can expect Robles to add more depth to Everton boss Sean Dyche. He already knows the Merseyside club well from his previous stint and won’t take much time to settle into life at Goodison Park.
With all things considered, the Toffees should think about bringing Robles back to Merseyside this summer as he could help them compete on all fronts in the coming seasons. At 32, he is an experienced goalkeeper who has what it takes to serve as an ideal understudy to Jordan Pickford at Everton.