Dominic Calvert-Lewin's future is still up in the air, but that won't prevent Everton from signing a new striker this summer.
After an impressive start to life at the helm, David Moyes is looking for ways to take the Toffees to the next level. It's like he never left.
Backed by The Friedkin Group, Moyes means business. However, his efforts to sign Ipswich Town's Liam Delap appear to have been thwarted, the English striker opting to sign for Chelsea.
He's not the only talented forward on the market, though, and Everton may yet secure a thrilling addition.
Everton could sign Delap alternative
As reported earlier this week by German outlet BILD, Everton are among the clubs to have registered their interest in Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade this month, though the DFB-Pokal champions are hoping to tie the 23-year-old down to a new deal.
Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are among the other contenders, so it won't be easy for The Toffees, but Moyes will hope to convince the German that he would be making a prudent move by joining the ranks at Bramley Moore.
Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade
Stuttgart have placed a loose valuation on their towering talisman, but they could be seeking as much as €50m (£42m), should the competition remain thick over the coming weeks.
Why Everton should sign Nick Woltemade
With Delap a no-go, Everton would strike gold in signing Woltemade, with his distinctive, rounded style of play leading data-driven site FBref to record Newcastle United's Alexander Isak as one of his most comparable players, among those in his postition across Europe's top five leagues.
Everton manager David Moyes before the match
Woltemade scored 17 goals across 33 matches in all competitions this season, including every round of Stuttgart's triumphant DFB-Pokal campaign, and has been hailed for his "sensational" finishing ability by reporter Bruno Alemany.
That 17-goal return surpasses Delap's, the Ipswich man bagging 12 from 37 matches in the Premier League, but it's his complete skill set which suggests Moyes should do everything he can to complete a deal.
Harking back to FBref, Woltemade is recorded to have ranked among the top 3% of centre-forwards across Europe's top-five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for passes attempted, the top 13% for progressive passes and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.
He's the full package, all 6 foot 6 of him. It's definitely a peculiar profile, with Woltemade a clinical finisher, progressive passer and creative outlet, with neat footwork and clever movements.
This does bear a similarity to Isak, who has been hailed as "the complete striker" by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer.
League Stats 24/25 - Alexander Isak vs Nick Woltemade
Stats (* per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Shots (on target)*
Big chances missed
Accurate passes*
Big chances created
Key passes*
Dribbles*
Duels won*
Stats via Sofascore
The Sweden striker scored 27 goals from 42 appearances this season, but he also dazzled with his silky running and nimble shimmies from left to right, left to right.
He's of course operating at a higher level than Woltemade, but the template is there and Everton could offer the grounded pathway to achieve his goals.
VfB Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade in action with Bayern Munich's Joao Palhinha and Bayern Munich's Kim Min-jae
The problem, as ever, is that Woltemade is a talented striker with a good track record, and thus bagging him will be no easy feat. But if Everton can sign such a unique profile, physical and imposing and technical and dynamic, it could revolutionise the club's frontline.
With similarities to Newcastle's Isak, throwing the kitchen sink at a deal is surely a no-brainer.
Everton-Richarlison-McNeil Related
[Moyes' own Richarlison: Everton to make huge offer for "sensational" CF](https://www.footballfancast.com/moyes-own-richarlison-everton-to-make-huge-offer-for-liam-delap/ "Moyes' own Richarlison: Everton to make huge offer for "sensational" CF")
Everton could be about to land a star who could follow in Richarlison's footsteps on Merseyside.