Following another evening of wasted chances, Everton have reportedly joined the race to sign Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus, who have set a bargain price for their striker.
David Moyes was once again left frustrated after being held to a 1-1 draw by Sunderland in a game that saw Thierno Barry spurn a clear-cut opportunity to win the game. In the forward's third start, expectations were high that he could finally kickstart his Everton career.
Thierno Barry in action for Everton
When the ball arrived at the far post, it looked as though the £27m man was destined to open his account in Merseyside, only for his attempt to find the stands rather than the back of the net. For the umpteenth time this season, the Toffees simply couldn't find the missing piece to an impressive attacking move.
Moyes didn't shy away from mentioning the missed chances at full-time either, and will be getting more and more frustrated with his current striker situation.
What really summed up Everton's striker problem was the performance of Beto when he came from the bench. Whilst Barry was guilty of missing his chance, his replacement simply struggled to get himself into the game.
It's something that The Friedkin Group must address if they are to push Everton into the top half of the Premier League. Several names have already been mentioned who could solve Moyes' problem in the January transfer window, but it remains to be seen whether they'll arrive.
Among those mentioned includes Ivan Toney, who will likely need a move back into Europe from Al-Ahli if he is to get into Thomas Tuchel's England World Cup squad. But he's not the only name on the list, with Vlahovic's new bargain price suddenly making him an interesting option.
Everton enter race to sign Dusan Vlahovic
According to TEAMtalk, Everton have now entered the race to sign Dusan Vlahovic, who is now available for as little as €20m (£18m) in January if he fails to sign a new contract at Juventus.
The Serbian striker has been linked with a move away from the Italian club for some time, but could now get his chance to move on courtesy of the Premier League in 2026. Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and West Ham United are also in the race to secure his signature in a bargain move.
League stats 25/26 Vlahovic Beto Barry
Minutes 499 597 308
Goals 3 1 0
Assists 0 0 0
Expected Goals 3.2 3.9 1
If the Toffees want a clinical striker then Vlahovic could be their man. The forward has scored three goals in just 499 minutes of action so far this season - the same as three goals in around 5.5 full games.
Described as "strong" by former Juventus boss Igor Tudor, Vlahovic has also matched his expected goals so far this season, whilst Beto has fallen far behind what he is expected to have scored by this stage. Simply put, Everton would be landing themselves a major upgrade.
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