Everton did not sign a new striker in January – and Youssef En-Nesyri may already be looking like a regret.
Everton were reported to have made a proposal for En-Nesyri during the transfer window, with the club having set out to look at new strikers.
Winter window now shut, what striker do you want signed in the summer for Everton? 💥
No excuses can be made when the window opens again 😫
Troy Parrott lined up for the Republic of Ireland. Ivan Toney playing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. Richarlison playing for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Credit: Getty Images/Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile/Yasser Bakhsh/Molly Darlington/Copa.
En-Nesyri is a player David Moyes has reportedly admired for quite some time, even going back to his West Ham United days.
But in the end, Everton failed to land En-Nesyri, with there being suggestions he has reservations about the UK climate.
But En-Nesyri did make a move in the end – and he’s made a good start.
Youssef En-Nesyri scores and assists in 7-0 rout for new club Al-Ittihad
Youssef En-Nesyri playing for Al-Ittihad.
Photo by Serhat Cagdas/Anadolu via Getty Images
En-Nesyri ended up joining Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad after all the links to Everton.
And the Morocco international has started well.
On Tuesday night, he played his second game for the club after joining, and starred in a 7-0 win against Al-Gharafa in the AFC Champions League.
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Al-Gharafa are currently a Qatari top-flight side who are second in their league.
Al-Ittihad demolished them, with En-Nesyri bagging the first goal after just three minutes. He found space in the box to convert a cross from the wing.
En-Nesyri then got an assist in the second-half, doing a headed one-two with Houssem Aouar, who lashed the ball home.
En-Nesyri could be a regret for Everton
People will point to where he’s playing and who against, but En-Nesyri is off the mark for his new club and Everton may regret not signing him.
It seems the club may have been unable to convince him in the end, which is a shame because he would have been an upgrade on Beto and potentially a good mentor to Thierno Barry.
Youssef En-Nesyri on the bench for Fenerbahce.
Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images
Ultimately, En-Nesyri has scored 132 goals in 371 appearances in his club career so far, and also hit 25 in 92 for Morocco.
By comparison Beto, who is the same age as En-Nesyri, has scored 69 goals in 237 club appearances. Just 19 of those have come for Everton.
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