Carlos Alcaraz

Key strength: Dribbling and progressive passing

Advanced Playmaker

In the crucible of Goodison Park, where pressure weighs heavy and expectation looms large, 23-year-old Argentine Carlos Alcaraz stands at a crossroads. Everton sit 8th in the Premier League table—a respectable if unremarkable position—and the Toffees' recent form tells a story of inconsistency that demands a catalyst. Enter Alcaraz, the €15 million summer acquisition whose dribbling prowess and passing vision suggest an advanced playmaker of rare technical gifts. Four appearances and 180 minutes into his Premier League journey, the numbers remain modest: zero goals, zero assists. Yet statistics tell only half the story for a player adapting to English football's frenetic tempo. While teammates like James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall provide industry in midfield, Alcaraz offers something different—a mercurial quality to unlock compact defenses with a feint, a turn, or a defense-splitting through ball. At 70 overall rating alongside peers in the same bracket, he represents an investment in potential rather than proven production. But for an Everton side seeking to transform their season, the Argentine's creative spark could be the difference between mid-table malaise and a push toward the European places. The stage is set for South America's next midfield gem to announce himself.