Branislav Ivanovic ‘close’ to Premier League return at Everton

Oh, Everton

Everton are such a strange club. They exist in that midtable abyss of never having a shot at winning the Premier League but quite often qualifying for Europe, threatening to maybe achieve something. And then they go and sign a lump of a defender to bring "experience" to the back line. Remember Ashley Williams? Now, Everton are coming off the back of a disappointing Premier League season but there is a sense of optimism around the club. Carlo Ancelotti is at the wheel, this is a man who has won everything. He's playing a quite frankly naively attacking 4-4-2. They're better than they were under Marco Silva (that was this season.) What's not to like? The problem is, Everton will always be Everton, regardless of which Champions League winner is in charge. Exhibit A: They're now being linked to Zenit St Petersburg defender Branislav Ivanović by several outlets in Serbia. Serbian paper Novosti explain that Ancelotti, who coached Ivanović at Chelsea when he won the double in his first season, wants wants to add a ‘strong and hardened ace’ to his current squad. Never mind the fact that he's 36. Or that he looked unable to play to the required standard in the Premier League three years ago when he left. Still, Everton are going to be without the experience and leadership that Leighton Baines brought to the dressing room following his retirement to join The Last Shadow Puppets. Perhaps Ivanović's experience is exactly what's needed to stop Jordan Pickford throwing the ball into his own net.