via Reuters
Everton have a real issue in attack following their disastrous end to the summer transfer window.
Having sold Beto to Fiorentina, Everton looked on course to bring in a new striker before the 11pm deadline on September 1, before chaos ensued.
The Toffees had agreed a deal to sign Folarin Balogun from Monaco, but medical issues arose and the player then decided he had no interest in making the move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Merseyside outfit also held interest in Tottenham Hotspur's Richarlison, Aston Villa's Tammy Abraham and Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee in the final hours of the window, but they were unable to agree deals to bring a new centre-forward to the club.
Everton have since been offered the chance to sign former United striker Anthony Martial on a free transfer, according to GMS sources, while there have also been links with another free agent in Mauro Icardi, following the Argentine's exit from Galatasaray this summer.
The failure to sign a striker has left David Moyes extremely short of depth, with 18-year-old Braiden Graham the current back-up to Thierno Barry up top.
Free agents available for Everton:
Anthony Martial
Mauro Icardo
Karim Benzema
Joselu
Danny Ings
It is far from an ideal situation for the club and Moyes, as they look to improve again and move up the Premier League standings this term.
The club could still consider bringing in a free agent to fill the void until January, but it is clear that they need to do business in the New Year and secure the striker deal they were unable to do on deadline day.
Everton Will be Frustrated Watching Calvert-Lewin
Via Reuters
Moyes and the Friedkin Group will be so frustrated that they were unable to do the business they wanted to do, and it is hardly being helped by how Dominic Calvert-Lewin is performing at Leeds United.
Everton made an offer to keep the striker at the club when his contract expired at the end of the 2024-25 season, but the 29-year-old decided to make the 'difficult decision' to leave on a free and explore a new challenge instead.
There would have been some raised eyebrows at the Hill Dickinson Stadium when he turned up at Elland Road, but it is a move that has worked out perfectly for the Englishman and the Yorkshire club.
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Calvert-Lewin Record for Leeds (2025-26)
Appearances
Goals
Assists
There were a lot of issues over Calvert-Lewin's fitness in his final seasons at Everton, but he has kept himself largely out of trouble, while becoming a prolific goalscorer for Daniel Farke's men.
Calvert-Lewin continues to rub his fine form into Everton faces this term too, adding a goal and an assist to his tally as Leeds thrashed Newcastle United 4-1 at Elland Road on Monday night, to move up to third in the Premier League standings and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
The striker thinks he should have had two goals, with the hosts' second instead being credited to Jayden Bogle, as both players went to head the same ball.
Calvert-Lewin caused huge issues for Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman all night, and how Everton and Moyes must wish they had the centre-forward in a blue shirt doing the same for them.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was certainly impressed with what he saw from the 29-year-old on Monday.
He’s the type of player who when you look at, as an ex-Premier League centre-back, thinking ‘I’m glad I’m not playing now’. He would have been absolute nightmare to handle. His leap...I love watching him play.
Calvert-Lewin already has three goals in six appearances this term, with a personal belief it should be four, and he looks on course to have another brilliant season in a white shirt.
He is clearly, right now, a big upgrade on someone like Balogun, given his proven ability in the Premier League and the fact he is ready-made to be a goalscorer in an Everton side.
Losing him for free will be something that the Toffees could regret for years to come, if the next three-and-a-half months prove to be as difficult as they look like they could be on paper.
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema