By now, Everton manager David Moyes will have had time to consider his options following the stress fracture Jack Grealish has suffered, set to keep him sidelined for much of the campaign.
For a side already struggling for creativity, it's a big blow, and one that needs fixing through the January transfer market, which is now only a few days away from closing.
With Dwight McNeil struggling to impress and actually linked with a late-window switch to Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest, Moyes is right to be focusing his attention on a new winger to strengthen his Toffees side.
Everton lining up move for Premier League winger
Grealish's injury comes at a frustrating time for Everton, who have maintained steady progress in the Premier League and have an outside shot at qualifying for Europe.
However, there is time for a replacement to be signed.
Jack Grealish and Everton manager David Moyes
Thierno Barry's goalscoring form has eased the need for a striker, but a right-back could be worthwhile for this Merseyside outfit.
With Moyes and technical director Angus Kinnear juggling various pieces, there appears to be an appetite to complete a shrewd deal for Chelsea youngster Tyrique George.
According to reporter Kieran Gill, Everton are interested in signing George on loan until the end of the season, though they face competition from Sunderland as well as suitors from Italy and Spain.
Tyrique-George
In fact, Fabrizio Romano has since chimed in to reveal that the Toffees - who are said to be the frontrunners - have sent off a formal offer to land the teenager on loan for the remainder of the season, with a purchase option proposed for the end of the term.
Everton need to replace Grealish, and that is bound to factor into the 19-year-old's thinking when considering which club offers the firmest platform for him to showcase his skills.
What Tyrique George would bring to Everton
George was crowned Chelsea's Academy Player of the Season for 2024/25, but his influence stretched onto the senior stage and he featured 13 times for the first team, even scoring and assisting in the Premier League.
Having maintained his presence for the west Londoners this year, George has scored three times for Chelsea this year, playing 11 times in all competitions.
Who knows, perhaps George could follow suit and emulate James Garner in picking himself back up after being discarded by one of the Premier League's heavyweights.
George is not an experienced winger, but his blend of pace and physicality suggests he could be a success in an industrious and principled Everton team.
Garner's PL Progress at Everton
Stats (* per 90)
Apps (starts)
Goals + Assists
Touches*
Accurate passes*
Chances created
Key passes*
Succ. dribbles*
Ball recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Duels (won)*
Data via Sofascore
So we can see the gains he has made in a more important role under Moyes' wing this season. Garner has truly come into his own, making use of the natural talent that saw him rise through the youth ranks at Carrington. This is also a testament to Moyes' player management, and surely a factor that could see George make the move in the coming days.
The teenager's fleet-footed, direct style offers shades of Grealish's own, but he is not a carbon copy by any stretch, and instead would add a different flavour, having shown his quality last year across eight starts for Chelsea in the Conference League, scoring once and assisting two more goals, creating four big chances and averaging 1.2 dribbles per game.
tyrique-george-chelsea
George's start to senior life at Stamford Bridge has been said by talent scout Jacek Kulig to be the "beginning of something special", and while Chelsea would be reluctant to let him leave on a permanent basis, a six-month stint on Merseyside could prove beneficial for all parties, adding a dimension to Moyes' driven Everton team.
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