Everton have been left high and dry after striker Folarin Balogun's move from Monaco collapsed - but free agents could grant them solace
Forward Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States walks off the field after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between the USA and Belgium
Folarin Balogun appeared set to join Everton before the plug was pulled(Image: Henry Rodenburg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Everton are left licking their wounds. A deadline day approach for Monaco star Folarin Balogun appeared to be complete but collapsed in the dying hours, leaving the Toffees with just one recognised striker.
David Moyes' side had already offloaded Beto to Fiorentina before Tuesday's deadline and Iliman Ndiaye said his goodbyes as he joined Manchester City. This left Everton with only Thierno Barry up top and reinforcements were needed.
Ex-Arsenal marksman Balogun was earmarked and the deal seemed to be going smoothly. The USA international arrived at Finch Farm, but medical complications and the 25-year-old changing his mind meant, with the clock winding down, the potential £40million deal was off.
Last-minute panic approaches were all turned away and so with the market shut, Barry remains the Toffees' only option up front. Now, Barry, who joined the club last summer from Villarreal for £27m, has begun the season in blazing form.
He has four goals and one assist in three games, including a Carabao Cup hat-trick against Preston North End. But Everton are one injury away from having no striker, so they could look to the free-agent market to bolster their attacking ranks. The ECHO takes a peek at five possible candidates.
Anthony Martial
Former Manchester United star Anthony Martial is a mercurial talent in the eyes of English fans. When he first signed for United, he was touted for greatness and early signs were encouraging.
Anthony Martial of Monterrey arrives to the stadium prior the 5th round match between America and Monterrey as part of the Torneo Clausura 2026 Liga MX at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes
Everton have reportedly had conversations regarding Martial(Image: Getty)
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But he never lived up to that potential and he last played for Monterrey in Mexico before becoming a free agent in July when his contract was mutually terminated. This followed a lacklustre spell with AEK Athens in Greece, with Martial only leaving Old Trafford in 2024.
However, he is only 30 and has 63 Premier League goals to his name. He spent nine years in the North West and Everton could look to him to solve their striker problem. Tentative reports even suggest that the club have been spoken to over the possibility of landing Martial.
Jordan Ayew
Jordan Ayew #9 of Ghana looks on after the 0-1 loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Colombia and Ghana at Kansas City Stadium
Ayew starred at the World Cup for Ghana(Image: Getty)
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Jordan Ayew captained Ghana at the World Cup and proved that, aged 34, he can still do a job. He last played for Leicester City but departed after their relegation to League One.
Ayew is without a club and has made over 300 English top-flight appearances for the likes of Swansea City, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.
While he may not be a blockbuster signing, Ayew is used to playing second fiddle and is a reliable forward option with 42 Premier League goals to his name, so Everton may look to pounce.
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Jamie Vardy
Jamie Vardy is almost 40 but showed during a year with Cremonese in Italy last season that he can still fire in goals in top European leagues. He registered seven strikes and two assists in 29 outings.
The Leicester City hero has been linked with a move Championship clubs primarily, but the Toffees are in no position to be picky and might want to add Vardy to their bench and perhaps more importantly, their dressing room.
Jamie Vardy of Cremonese celebrates his goal during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Pisa SC at Stadio Giovanni Zini
Vardy is a Premier League winner(Image: Getty)
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Vardy has scored 145 top-flight goals and spent 14 years with Leicester. Whatever star Everton do sign, if any, they will be a deputy to Barry and Vardy's line-breaking runs could offer something different from the sidelines.
Joselu
Spanish striker Joselu has been called upon in an emergency before and thrived. Although the stakes were slightly higher then, as he signed for Real Madrid on loan in 2023 and helped them win the Champions League.
Jose Luis Mato of Al Gharafa SC celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the AFC Champions League elite west football match between Qatar's Al Gharafa SC and Iraq's Al Shorta at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha
Joselu became revered after scoring a Champions League semi-final brace for Real Madrid in 2024(Image: Getty)
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The 36-year-old has experience in England, first with Stoke City, whom he joined in 2015 but failed to make much of an impact. Then, in 2017, he signed for Newcastle United, but again found things difficult.
Everton could look to the experienced Spanish forward as someone who can be given one last chance in English football and who fits Moyes' system. He last played for Qatari side Al Gharafa, where he scored 15 goals in 30 league matches.
Andrea Belotti
A final, speculative option could be the Italian forward Andrea Belotti. In his prime, Belotti was a force to be reckoned with and bagged goals for fun up top with Torino. For those unaware, the 32-year-old was part of Italy's Euro 2020-winning squad and once had an £85m release clause.
Andrea Belotti of Cagliari looks during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Via del Mare
Belotti was once one of Italy's finest strikers(Image: Getty)
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But since scoring 113 goals in 251 games for Torino, his career has plateaued. He joined Roma in 2022 and never got going. Spells with Como, Cagliari and loan moves to Fiorentina and Benfica followed.
Yet all the while, he failed to find the goalscoring touch he once had. He now finds himself a free agent after failing a medical when Cagliari tried to renew his deal, so he could be an option for Everton, albeit an unlikely one.