Everton find themselves lacking goals through the opening months of the season and one of their creative summer targets has just asked to leave his club in January,
David Moyes will have been stunned not to see his side come away with anything from the game on Sunday against Tottenham Hotspur.
Numerous golden opportunities were not converted by Everton, which allowed the north London side to pick the Blues off in the end.
Everton News understands that Everton will look to sign a striker when the January window opens in a couple of months.
However, there is also a lack of goals coming from the rest of the side following two goalless displays from the Toffees.
Moyes was delighted with Everton’s summer business, but there is clearly more needing to be done.
And one target has just told his club he would like to leave in the coming months.
Manchester City v Everton - Premier League
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Everton target Lucas Paqueta wants January move
Over the summer, Everton showed an interest in Lucas Paqueta, which was led by Moyes, as his West Ham United future came under serious scrutiny.
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It appeared as if the Brazilian was keen to stay at the London Stadium in the end, but that decision has quickly been changed.
According to The Times, Paqueta has now asked to leave West Ham when the January window opens.
It is believed the Hammers are set to announce significant financial losses, which could lead them to resorting to a big player sale in the window.
With the Hammers struggling in the Premier League, it would certainly pose a big risk to allow a player like Paqueta to leave midway through the term.
Tottenham Hotspur and Everton showed interest in Paqueta among other Premier League clubs in August.
Whether Everton’s interest remains is another question given some of the moves made during the summer window.
Everton must consider Jack Grealish is not a permanent deal
Everton may feel that they have a solid attacking department, with players like Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye, it has to be remembered Grealish is set to return to Manchester City.
Bringing in Paqueta could provide some cover for if Grealish’s move was not made permanent.
Paqueta position Appearances
Attacking midfield 143
Central midfield 87
Left midfield 33
Centre-forward 21
Right midfield 14
The Brazilian has shown he is capable of playing on the left-wing, but he would naturally play through the middle and allow Ndiaye and Tyler Dibling to take up the wide spots.
Dewsbury-Hall’s Everton performances have dipped and having a player like Paqueta to push him for his spot would be a huge statement from the Friedkins.
However, the priority will surely lie in addressing the lack of goals coming from the strikers.