The final international break of the year has given us time to assess where we are as far as the season so far, and what may be needed when the January transfer window opens.
The former is more difficult to assess than the latter in fairness. Most of what Everton need in January is similar to what was needed in August.
And while it’s fair to say there was a lot of good work done in the summer window, for one reason or another some areas of the squad were not improved – some that have been in need of attention for a number of years now, in particular the full-back positions.
A striker, in my mind, should be top of the list when looking at strengthening the squad as it’s clear the team have struggled in forward areas. That’s not to say what is there now isn’t good enough, but for various reasons the return from the two current strikers is not enough for the whole season. There needs to be another option for David Moyes and, for me, that has to be a player that has Premier League experience.
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Alan Myers gives update on Ivan Toney’s potential Everton transfer
Ivan Toney has been linked in recent weeks, and I’m sure there will be an interest in the former Brentford man. However, I think there are a number of signs which would suggest he won’t be coming to Everton.
It’s not even clear he will leave Al Ahli during the winter transfer, in fact only this past week the Saudi club’s director Rui Pedro Braz appeared to play down any talk of Tony moving. However, the level of speculation around Toney would suggest things are being discussed.
Even if Toney were to become available, and Everton wanted him, they would face stiff competition from a number of clubs. Tottenham Hotspur are likely to be after a striker and, with his former manager Thomas Frank in charge in north London, you would imagine they would be in pole position in any race to sign Toney.
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It’s a well-known fact the January window is a difficult time to do business, so many factors are at play and strikers in particular are at a premium.
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Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus and Man Utd’s Joshua Zirkzee have both been linked with a move to the Hill Dickinson stadium too. Personally I don’t see either happening, but I don’t see money being the reason, I do expect Everton to spend. I think both players would look to join a club with European football, but if a deal was possible I’m sure the funds would be there.
Africa Cup of Nations will force David Moyes into full-back and midfield markets
I also think along with a striker, a right-back and a central midfielder will also be on David Moyes’ radar.
Moyes will lose both Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye for the Africa Cup of Nations, and with Senegal being among the favourites for the competition, it’s likely they will be unavailable from late December till late January. So the Everton boss will want bodies in as the winter months take their toll on the squad.
I believe the recruitment set-up will be in a stronger position come January too. They’ve had time now to understand relationships and how each other operates, that will allow them to be ready to act quickly.
The biggest issue ahead of the window opening again will be the availability of the right players. Everton’s owners TFG will provide the funds if they are, but the manager and the recruitment team will already know what and who they want, and I don’t believe they will stray too far from that list.
It was great to see Seamus Coleman get a full 90 minutes in against Portugal in Dublin, and a further hour against Hungary. Not only for the Republic of Ireland, but his performance will not have been lost on his club manager.
Coleman is a real leader as he showed once again in the unexpected 2-0 victory, Moyes of course knows this already, but it will give him some confidence that his captain is there and ready to be called on when the squad demands become greater as the season progresses.