Will Lankshear playing for Middlesbrough
Will Lankshear playing for Middlesbrough
The Toffees are in desperate need of a striker when the transfer window opens, with numerous names put forward.
The Friedkin Group will reportedly make funds available to sign a new striker, despite the American Group being open to selling the club.
Whether the finances stretch as far as signing a player like Lankshear, who is tearing it up in the Championship, remains to be seen.
The 21-year-old has scored 13 goals in 13 appearances already this season in the second tier for Middlesbrough.
In the view of Everton FA Cup winner Horne, he is exactly the type of gem the Toffees should be going for.
Barry Horne wants to see more EFL stars at Everton
Lankshear only arrived at the Riverside Stadium from Tottenham in the summer for a fee of around £10million, potentially rising to £20m.
The England Under-21s international was very much there for the taking had Everton gambled.
Signing him for £10m is surely now no longer in the question given his form over the past few months.
But if not Lankshear, who Horne has personally pitched as a player Everton should look to sign, then the Welshman wants to see others from the second tier considered.
Everton have, after all, had plenty of success in landing players from further down the pyramid down the years.
"If somebody’s scoring double figures before Christmas in the Championship, when you think of the chances that we’ve created for Thierno Barry, I’d back [Lankshear] to put them away,” Horne said on the Once a Blue podcast.
"There is a difference in quality, but if somebody’s scoring double figures before Christmas in the Championship, I’d certainly be looking at him.
"I think there are good players playing in this country outside of the Premier League. I watch the Championship all the time.
"We’ve got people who watch more football than me. We’ve got people earning fabulous money to make these decisions. I’d like to think they’re at least considering some players, like Tim Cahill.
"Cahill, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka - they all came from the Championship. Joleon Lescott as well when you talk about players being taken from a lower division and turning into superb players."
Could more realistic transfer option be open to Everton?
Nobody will disagree with Horne in that there are plenty of gems out there who could go on to thrive at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Unfortunately, too many clubs will now be lurking for Lankshear and his price tag is only going to increase.
For a smaller fee, a player like Jean-Philippe Mateta could be there for Everton to sign in January.
Or how about Minnesota United forward Kelvin Yeboah, who also looks like he has something about him.
Everton can go down a couple of different transfer routes in January.
Either sign a player who undoubted potential, or instead go for a shorter-term option for the here and now.
David Moyes will not really be after a project player, but rather someone who can seriously rival Barry - and eventually usurp him before too long - for a starting spot.
Lankshear already seems a better bet than Barry, but realistically speaking, the Toffees are going to have to look elsewhere.