VICTOR ANICHEBE’S rise to prominence at Everton could save David Moyes a lot of money in the transfer market, according to Blues legend Peter Reid.
Anichebe’s development this season has been rapid. The Nigeria-born striker has made a total of 27 appearances, scoring eight goals. He has started in each of the Blues’ last five matches, impressing with his form.
Only once previously, in 2007-08, has the 24-year-old made more appearances in a season. Never before has he scored so many goals in a campaign, and Reid believes he is now emerging as a key player in Moyes’ side.
Reid said: “Victor can be anything he wants to be. I’ve always thought that.
“In the past, you’ve looked at him and wondered why, with the physical and technical attributes he has, he hasn’t done more. The consensus has usually been that he needed to get his mind right, or to add a bit more confidence to his game.
“Well he’s done that now. He’s playing really well, and he’s such a handful for defenders.
“If you’d said a year ago that Victor would have been keeping Nikica Jelavic out of the team, then I don’t think many would have believed you. But he is doing so, and he is doing so on merit.
“When you talk about the need to sign strikers, and how every club is searching for that all-round type of centre forward, then you have to say Victor is a massive asset for Everton. He could save the club an awful lot of money in the future, because he has all the ingredients.”
Reid also spoke of the uncertainty surrounding the future of David Moyes.
He added: “Of course I hope he stays, what Evertonian wouldn’t? Nobody knows the football club as well as David does.
“But he’s hanging fire, and that’s his prerogative. He has a good relationship with the chairman, but I think he knows he will need to challenge the board to try and improve his squad if he is to stay.
“With the windfall from the television deal next season, there might just be a chance to do that, but you don’t know. Having a big squad is massive for clubs in this day and age, and David knows that.”
