Sky Sports journalist James Savundra has claimed that Everton could make potential new manager Sean Dyche “very happy” by signing a striker this winter.
What’s the word?
With reports saying he’ll soon come in to replace Frank Lampard, the former Burnley boss looks set to be trusted by the Toffees as the man to guide their struggling team safety out of a relegation battle.
The Premier League side are yet to make a new signing with the January window closing in just a couple of days but winger Antony Gordon seems destined to leave for Newcastle United.
That deal could potentially bring in around £40m to splash on a new incoming and Savundra has claimed that the club need a striker to come in more than any other position.
While speaking on the Sky Sports Transfer Talk show, he said (19:25): “Calvert-Lewin is a player, he needs to get back into form. Whether it’s alongside Maupay, whether he [Dyche] goes for the 442, I’m not so sure.
“Maybe that’s something they’ll look at as we head towards the end of the window. It feels like they need goals, they’ve not replaced Richarlison, Maupay has not offered the goals they need.
“So if they can get a striker in the next few days, I think Sean Dyche will be very happy.”
New striker needed?
Everton have scored just 15 goals in 20 league games so far this season – only Wolves have scored fewer – so it’s easy to see why question marks hang over the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Neal Maupay.
The former has struggled for fitness this term but has just scored just one goal in ten league games. While the latter joined in the summer from Brighton and also has just one goal from his first 15 outings for the club.
Evidently, the Toffees will need to score more goals in the second half of the season if they are to avoid the drop. Still, Dyche isn’t exactly known for his free-flowing, attacking brand of football.
With that in mind, perhaps signing a proven goalscorer will be the easier solution to the problem. West Ham United’s Michail Antonio has been linked but it remains to be seen if that deal could be done with not so much time now left in the winter window.