Already shifting their focus towards the January transfer window, Everton are reportedly ready to offer one want-away forward a fresh exit route.
Duncan Ferguson takes aim at "poor" Beto
It should come as no surprise that Everton are already eyeing additional support in attack. That's where their biggest weakness lies. Despite adding the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Thierno Barry and Jack Grealish to David Moyes' side in the summer, the Toffees are still struggling to find goals - scoring just twice in their recent four-game winless run.
Beto-2
A large part of that problem has been Beto and his underwhelming performances. With Barry still not ready to step into the side as a starter every week, the responsibility has fallen the way of Beto to lead the lines for Moyes, who has even been critical of the forward himself in the early stages of the campaign.
In Monday's 1-1 draw with West Ham, the 27-year-old failed to impress once more and quickly became the subject of Duncan Ferguson's frustration in his post-match analysis.
“Beto for me was very poor. I don’t remember Everton having many chances. Everton were poor up front. You could smell it in the second half, Everton made a few defensive mistakes…” (Ferguson on Monday Night Football)
If Everton are looking to push beyond the bottom half and back to where many feel they belong, then signing a replacement for Beto in January should be top of their priority list.
There's also no guarantee that Barry will prove his worth as of yet. The summer arrival has started just once in the Premier League and made five other appearances from the bench, but is yet to find the back of the net.
The Toffees must welcome a player at the peak of their powers and may well have the perfect player in mind to do exactly that when the winter window swings open.
Everton readying Maeda move
As reported by Sports Boom, Everton are now ready to offer Daizen Maeda an exit route from Celtic amid his desire to leave the Scottish giants in 2026.
The Japan international revealed earlier this season that he had an agreement with another club before the Bhoys blocked his move late on in the summer window. Now, Everton could take full advantage to swoop in this winter.
Maeda revealed: “There were some things that I had agreed to personally, so I wanted to take on the challenge. I had received an offer, and I had been telling the club that I wanted to take the next step, but Celtic hadn’t been able to make any good reinforcements, so in the end they told me they couldn’t let me leave.”
Whilst the forward, who can also play as a winger, is yet to replicate last season's incredible form which ended in 33 goals and 12 assists in all competitions, he is more than capable of reaching that level again.
Dubbed "brilliant" by Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, Everton should do everything to sign Maeda when the January transfer window arrives.