Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring their fourth goal
Everton started their Premier League campaign with a convincing 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, but manager David Moyes is not yet satisfied with his squad on Merseyside.
It's been a quietly successful summer in the market so far for the Toffees. The loan moves of Tyrique George and Merlin Rohl were made permanent, while competition was beaten to land the talented Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough.
Christian Norgaard and Brennan Johnson have also arrived to bring Premier League experience, but Everton are still in the market for at least one full-back, as well as a midfielder, winger and a striker. That's a lot to get done in two weeks, but the club must remain cool over the crunch period of the summer window.
Why do Everton need another striker?
Thierno Barry
Moyes currently only has two out-and-out centre-forwards at his disposal in Beto and Thierno Barry. The latter was handed the start against Crystal Palace, and found himself on the scoresheet, nodding home an Iliman Ndiaye cross in the second half.
There is hope that an opening weekend goal can give the 23-year-old the confidence to put together a run of form this season. The Frenchman managed eight top flight goals last term, but didn't find his first until December.
Meanwhile, Beto managed a return of nine Premier League goals, five of those coming in his last seven league outings. Those are both respectable returns for the strikers, but if Everton are to realise European hopes, then the club needs a talisman capable of bagging more than 10 goals a season.
The arrival of a new forward would provide healthy competition for Beto and Barry. The potential departure of Ndiaye would also come as a serious blow, and a loss of attacking impetus.
Liam Delap touted amid potential Nottingham Forest hijack
via Reuters
In an update on Tuesday morning, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claimed that Everton could still put together a late hijack on Nottingham Forest's move to sign Chelsea striker Liam Delap on loan.
Oliver Glasner's side are in advanced talks with the Blues but Moyes is a long-term admirer of the player, having tried to sign him from Ipswich Town last summer.
Delap seems certain to leave Stamford Bridge but, with Forest zeroed in on their target and willing to offer big wages, it's a saga that the Toffees do not need to get dragged into.
While the Chelsea man does have huge potential, hitting 12 Premier League goals for Ipswich Town over the 2024/25 campaign, he has struggled for form since then. A meagre three goals in 47 outings for the Blues points to a striker low in confidence and that, combined with injury worries, certainly does not point to an upgrade on Beto or Barry.
Gabriel Jesus would be no-brainer £17m arrival
REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Who Everton should move for, is Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian has been linked with a move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium in recent weeks, with the Gunners supposedly willing to sanction a £17million exit.
Jesus is still available, having this week turned down a move to Napoli. The 29-year-old is keen to stay in the Premier League, either at Arsenal or with a rival.
Jesus is the type of player who could lift Everton up the table, with 79 goals in 243 Premier League appearances. The striker is someone who Barry and Beto could learn from and, while there are injury concerns, you'd back the Brazilian to outscore the duo over the season.
Should Ndiaye leave, Jesus can also be deployed on the flank and adds a versatility to Moyes side that the more traditional Beto and Barry perhaps do not.
It's a move that would suit the player too. Jesus is unlikely to get a look in behind Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino at the Emirates Stadium, but would fancy his chances at being first choice at Everton.
With Barry and Beto still good options for Moyes, the player could also have his workload managed and would not be expected to carry the whole goalscoring burden, taking the pressure off a transfer and his injury record.