Everton are on the hunt for another striker - but which of the four names linked with a summer move to Merseyside should they sign?
Everton may have a new stadium and relatively new owners who have not yet had the opportunity to establish a clear philosophy in the transfer market, but this summer has a familiar feel in many ways – not least in the undeniable need for a new striker.
Taty Castellanos, David Moyes & Liam Delapplaceholder image
Taty Castellanos, David Moyes & Liam Delap | Getty Images
Ever since injuries started to derail Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s career, the Toffees have struggled to find a reliable goalscorer. Last summer they signed Thierno Barry from Villarreal only to find that they’d got hold of another forward who blows a little hot and cold – and in any case, the 23-year-old could well leave amid interest from RB Leipzig. With Beto as their only other option up front, they’re back in the market for a number nine.
Four strikers have been plausibly and regularly linked with a move to Merseyside to date, and they represent two very different visions for the type of centre-forward that Everton might want – so who will they sign, and perhaps more importantly who should they sign?
The four strikers on Everton’s shortlist – and what they tell us about their transfer strategy
Liam Delap is among several strikers Everton are monitoring.placeholder image
Liam Delap is among several strikers Everton are monitoring. | Getty Images
While other names have cropped up in the gossip columns from time to time, there are four forwards who have either been linked with a move to Everton by more reliable sources, or who have simply come up in discussion with the kind of frequency and plausibility that makes a deal look more viable.
Two of those players are already in England: Liam Delap, who endured a disappointing debut season with Chelsea, and Taty Castellanos, who was among West Ham’s better players after moving to the London Stadium in January but was unable to prevent their relegation.
Another is Japan international Ayase Ueda, who scored two goals in his nation’s 4-0 win over Tunisia at the World Cup and enjoyed a hugely fruitful season with Feyenoord. The fourth and final player seemingly in the mix is Juventus’ Loïs Openda, who was excellent in France and Germany but who has struggled in Serie A.
There are some constants across the group, not least in that they all have proven track records: Ueda and Openda are both 26 and have some impressive goalscoring seasons to their name, Castellanos is 27 and provided proof of concept in the Premier League over the last six months, and while Delap is a little younger his first season in the top flight with Ipswich Town demonstrated that he can perform at the highest level. Everton don’t seem to be keen to roll the dice on a somewhat unproven player again, as they arguably did with Barry.
These are also all players who suit a system focussed on playing direct football, which makes sense given David Moyes’ playing style, and suggests that Everton’s recruitment will be at least somewhat holistic going forward. They don’t seem to be heading towards becoming the kind of club where there’s a disconnect between the profile of the players they sign and the head coach’s methods – as, for instance, West Ham became towards the end of Moyes’ tenure when they hired a sporting director who had a completely different philosophy and started signing players that Moyes had no use for.
There is, however, a big difference between players like Ueda, whose strengths lie in their hold-up play and the ability to act as a fulcrum for the rest of the attack, and those like Delap who thrive off the shoulder of the last man and have the speed to exploit space in behind the defence. Both suit direct attacking football, but in very different ways.
It’s worth noting that none of the four are truly traditional target men – all are comfortably under six foot tall save for Delap – which suggests that Everton aren’t interested in playing long ball football. That means that the decision over which striker they sign will be determined by their wingers. Or, perhaps, vice versa.
Why Everton need to look to the wings to decide which striker to sign
David Moyes is preparing for his 15th full season in charge of Everton.placeholder image
David Moyes is preparing for his 15th full season in charge of Everton. | Getty Images
A striker like Delap or Openda often flourishes when played alongside traditional wingers who play high upfield and close to the touchline, stretching the opposing defence and creating wider channels for the striker to attack. A player like Ueda, meanwhile, whose strength lies in his knack for interlinking play, will tend to play his best football next to inside forwards who get closer to him and take advantage of his lay-offs.
Castellanos, meanwhile, represents a halfway house between the two styles – a good link-up man but one who tends to drift into channels himself, necessitating a degree of fluidity and attacking midfielders who are willing and able to exploit the space he leaves in the central area when he drifts wide. In short, Everton’s choice should come down to the nature of the other attacking players in the squad, and how Moyes intends to use them.
Unfortunately for Everton, it’s not entirely clear who those wingers might be. It’s yet to become clear as to whether they will have the chance to re-sign Jack Grealish, who impressed on loan before injury prematurely ended his season, or whether they might be able to keep hold of the much sought-after Iliman Ndiaye. They may have a familiar cast of wingers and attacking midfielders next season, or several new faces.
That makes it tough to assess which of the four strikers Everton seem to be monitoring might suit them best, and creates a situation in which their recruitment team need to work out which position is the cart and which the horse.
Perhaps they will end up with a team which would suit a striker like Openda or Delap, which will look to draw opposing defences upfield and then suddenly attack the space left behind them. Or maybe they will look for a player like Castellanos or Ueda who is better suited to attacking deeper defences. Everton need to have a plan for how they might reshape their entire attack if the transfer market forces them to make changes.
However they proceed, however, there will be an element of risk. Ueda has been prolific in the Netherlands but would scarcely be the first striker to struggle with the step up from the Eredivise. Castellanos played solidly but six goals in 18 appearances at West Ham was hardly an outstanding return. Delap and Openda have both been excellent in the past and have exceptionally high ceilings, but lost all form and confidence over the past year.
Tactical considerations aside, it’s hard to ignore the remarkably high ceiling offered by Openda, who scored with ease with Lens and RB Leipzig before things went south in Turin. He’s also most certainly available – Juventus need to make sales and Openda is the player they are most keen to push out of the door to raise some funds.
Then again, Delap has immense untapped potential and more years ahead of him with which to realise it. Ueda took a colossal step up last season with Feyenoord and has looked strong at the World Cup. Castellanos did rather well in a struggling side and suggested that he could score more in a better side which created more chances.
Everton may not get a free choice, of course. Ueda, Openda and Delap all appear to be targets for other sides, while West Ham appear keen to keep hold of Castellanos and only need to raise so much money from sales – they have a strong negotiating position. But whichever direction of travel they take, it needs to be a decision they make with the entire attack in mind, or they may be back here in another year’s time, still on the hunt for a striker who scores week in, week out.
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