Everton could already be reconsidering their striker options after a new report linked them with a move for Jamie Vardy.
Reports suggest that David Moyes is considering the 39-year-old, who is available on a free transfer after leaving Cremonese.
There is no suggestion at this stage that talks have taken place or an offer has been made, so this remains one to treat with some caution.
But the timing is interesting.
Vardy claim follows Everton striker decision
Only a day earlier, the Telegraph reported that Everton were not planning to turn to the free-agent market following the collapse of their Deadline Day move for Folarin Balogun.
That left Thierno Barry as Moyes’ only recognised senior centre-forward after Beto joined Fiorentina.
As we wrote earlier today, Everton may now have to wrap Barry in cotton wool until January.
The obvious problem is what happens if he gets injured. Vardy would at least give Moyes another genuine centre-forward.
He turns 40 in January and clearly wouldn’t represent a long-term solution, but Everton don’t necessarily need one. They need someone capable of taking some of the burden away from Barry between now and the January window.
Vardy also knows the Premier League inside out after scoring 145 goals in the competition during his time with Leicester City.
For now, though, this is a newspaper claim rather than evidence of a deal.
But if Everton really have gone from deciding against the free-agent market to considering Vardy within a matter of days, perhaps the reality of heading into the autumn with Barry as their only senior No.9 has prompted a rethink.
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