Everton face a striker problem after David Moyes confirmed the club are checking the free-agent market after a chaotic Deadline Day. Moyes admitted he was disappointed that more business did not get over the line, yet he refused to pin the outcome on any one person.
The key failure came in the £40m move for Monaco forward Folarin Balogun. Everton sold Beto to Fiorentina, but the transfer collapsed after Balogun changed his mind. Everton also saw loan approaches for Joshua Zirkzee and Tammy Abraham rejected. That left Thierno Barry as Moyes’ only recognised senior centre-forward.
Read Everton reports that Moyes has opened the door to free agents, although he named no targets or suggested a deal was close. Reports elsewhere have since linked Everton with Jamie Vardy and Anthony Martial, both unattached options for the depleted attack now.
Barry cannot carry the workload alone for four months. He has started well, scoring against Crystal Palace before hitting three in the 4-0 Carabao Cup win at Preston. That form, though, does not remove the injury risk.
Everton sold Beto and Ndiaye with Manchester City paying £60m plus £5m in add-ons for Ndiaye. Calling that a £65m “loss” misses the point. The fee was significant, but the sale removed another attacking player from Moyes’ squad. The issue now concerns depth.
Everton should consider a short-term veteran