Tuesday provided two key moments of clarity for Everton. First, the club announced the signing of Idrissa Gana from Aston Villa in a bid to bolster the midfield. The Senegal international enjoyed a solid debut campaign in England and was a stand out performer for a disappointing Villans outfit that dropped into the Championship with all the fight of Homer Simpson against Drederick Tatum.
Given Gareth Barry’s advancing years and Darron Gibson’s injury woes, investment was required in the middle of the park, with Gana adding much-needed grit to the Toffees side. Indeed, only N’Golo Kante (331) made more tackles and interceptions combined than Gana (285) in Europe’s top five leagues last season. At a little over £7m, the 26-year-old could yet prove a fine capture for Ronald Koeman’s side. The second moment came from the club’s decision not to hand Oumar Niasse a shirt number.
Niasse moved to Goodison Park in January for an outlay of £13.5m. Expected to provide competition for Romelu Lukaku, the 26-year-old registered just 142 minutes of Premier League action for Everton before this week being stripped of a squad number. Deemed surplus to requirements by Koeman, the decision to allow Niasse to leave is a somewhat bewildering one despite his lack of impact. Given the mounting rumours over Lukaku’s future, with the Belgian subject of intense speculation surrounding a return to Chelsea, Koeman runs the very real risk of starting the campaign without a recognised striker.
Chelsea are supposedly prepared to pay a British record £75m to lure Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge, three years after cashing in on the striker for £28m. 18 Premier League goals - 30.5% of Everton's Premier League total (59) last season - was the fourth best return in England’s top tier last term yet despite establishing himself as one of the most lethal goalscorers in the country, it’s fair to say Lukaku is far from the finished article. Should Everton coax £75m out of Chelsea, then they would have sufficient funds to pump back into the squad, but if Lukaku and Niasse leave in quick succession with no reinforcements, then the Toffees would start the campaign in a tight spot up top.
In a window where transfer prices are hiking up on the back of the increase of TV funding, Everton could be about to raise well over £100m, should Chelsea and Manchester City match the asking prices for Lukaku and John Stones respectively. The Toffees, therefore, would have an abundance of riches to invest on the frontline this summer, should the pair depart for pastures new. However, while Everton would boast enviable clout in the market, clubs could hike up the price for any player the club shows an interest in given their potential financial power.
Furthermore, the lack of attainable striking talent in the market at this point in time for a team of Everton’s stature means the pool is relatively shallow. The Toffees are historically a big team in England, but have been leapfrogged by the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City in terms of reputation. For all money the club now has following the takeover of Farhad Moshiri, they don't have the pulling power of the former Premier League champions and have remained patient in the transfer market thus far as a result. In fact, arguably the biggest coup of the window for the Toffees so far has been the appointment of Steve Walsh as director of football.
He moved to Goodison Park last month after two spells with Leicester City and was the man responsible for bringing Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and Kante, among others, to the King Power Stadium. Everton are now hoping Walsh can have a similar impact at Goodison Park, but with considerably greater funds to utilise. The Toffees will hope Walsh can maximise his exhaustive list of possible targets to help reinforce the attack, because there are strikers out there who can be convinced to move to Merseyside.
Koeman has at his disposal a raft of creative talent to call on. 9.6 key passes per game may have been a mid-table return for Everton, but the Toffees ranked fourth for clear-cut chances created (62) in England’s top tier last term. A consistent goalscoring frontman would indeed come as a boost to Everton, most notably a player who frequently knows how to hit the back of the net. While the Toffees are unlikely to land an Alexandre Lacazette or Antoine Griezmann, they could do a lot worse than convince a player of Mario Gomez’s ilk to move to Merseyside.
The Germany international scored more goals (26) than any other player in the Super Lig last season and as he proved at Euro 2016, netting two goals from three starts, still has the ability to ply his trade at the highest level. Yet to try his luck in the Premier League, Gomez could make for a somewhat astute pick up for the right fee. Elsewhere, Chelsea are willing to include Loic Remy in any deal for Lukaku, which could be a benefit for Everton.
The Frenchman has endured a tumultuous spell at Stamford Bridge following his arrival two years ago, but in the last three seasons, has scored a goal at a rate of one every 147 minutes, the seventh best return of players to net 20 or more times since the start of the 2013 Premier League campaign. While he has endured his injury problems in recent months, and is perhaps not of the standard of Lukaku, Remy is an experienced frontman in England’s top tier.
Should Everton welcome Remy as part of a Lukaku deal, it wouldn’t ultimately solve their goalscoring issues, but is as good a place as any to start. Everton, though, remain in need of striking reinforcements this summer and with the transfer window ticking closer to its close, they need to act quickly in order to bolster their attack sufficiently. Should Niasse and Lukaku both depart Goodison Park in the coming weeks that need would multiply drastically, even if Koeman believes Gerard Deulofeu can play the role of lone frontman.
“If we don’t have Lukaku he’s the best option to replace him up-front. He’s showing his qualities. He's fast, and he makes good runs," the Dutch manager said of the 22-year-old last month. With Lukaku handed an extended leave of absence, Koeman has called on Deulofeu to spearhead the attack but despite netting in the 3-1 pre-season friendly win over MK Dons, there are reservations over his ability to play the role given his physical stature. While there is more focus on technical ability nowadays, Deulofeu's goal return over the last three league seasons leaves a lot to be desired.
Indeed, six league goals in 68 league appearances for Everton and Sevilla, with a conversion rate of just 10.7%, is modest to say the least. Deulofeu made a name for himself as a tricky wideman and it's a position he is best suited to, despite Koeman's praise for the Spaniard as an option up front. The Everton manager will of course have been buoyed by the performances of Shane Long in the role last season, but in his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, a more physical presence in the final third could be required, which Deulofeu, for all his obvious talent, does not offer.
Either way, it's a very real predicament facing Koeman ahead of the coming campaign. With just nine days to go, any sale of Lukaku would mean he is able to call on only Deulofeu and Arouna Kona to lead the line, with Niasse set to be sold and the Belgian afforded an extended rest regardless of any interest from elsewhere. The Dutchman has made only two signings this summer, with Gana following Maarten Stekelenburg to Goodison Park, and it's vital the Toffees invest further up the pitch sooner rather than later or run the real risk of being left behind by their Premier League rivals.
Who should Everton sign to bolster their attack before the window closes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
