Everton are just five points behind their main rivals Liverpool in the current Premier League table.
David Moyes’ Toffees are still in the top four in the top flight this season, with eight league wins now next to their name from 19 games in total, having got the better of former boss Sean Dyche with ease last time out to beat Nottingham Forest 2-0.
James Garner would score a goal and help rub salt in the wound for his former employers, but Moyes would also have been over the moon with Thierno Barry’s effort at the City Ground, as he collected only his second Toffees strike against the Dyche hosts.
But, with just 20 goals scored throughout the season, the Merseyside giants may be tempted to bring in a few signings in January, with a talismanic figure in attack no doubt guiding Moyes’ men to even more victories.
Everton still interested in the transfer of their dream striker
With Beto only on a paltry strike in the Premier League for the campaign too, it’s clear why a whole host of attacking names are already being linked with the Hill Dickinson Stadium, just days after the window reopened.
Indeed, rumors suggest Everton began discussing a deal in January with Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Although with his tally of just three goals in all competitions this season, he won’t be seen as a huge improvement worth breaking the bank for.
However, bringing in the services of Ivan Toney would be a deal that would send shockwaves through the Premier League, as the former Brentford striker continues to be linked with a return to England.
In reality, the costs involved – with Toney’s wages for Al-Ahli coming in at £433,000 per week – make the deal something of a pipe dream.
But the i Paper has suggested it is a move the Toffees “would love” to get over the line in the coming month, as they search for that missing focal point at the top, with Toney collecting a superb 131 goal contributions over his last five seasons in England and the Saudi Pro League.
Landing the 29-year-old’s services against all odds could see Moyes land his own version of Romelu Lukaku, with the Belgian still revered to this day on Merseyside as a beloved goal machine.
Why Toney can be Moyes’ Lukaku
Lukaku’s lasting imprint at Everton is felt today, with Barry declaring – after scoring his decisive strike against Forest – that he tried to model his instinctive Toffees game on the 32-year-old during his peak at Goodison Park.
Indeed, for most of his time on Merseyside, most of what Lukaku touched would turn into gold, with his 87 lethal strikes for Everton in total far outstripping his output at Chelsea, Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion.
He is even said to be a ‘world class’ finisher by one of his former Everton bosses, Ronald Koeman, with the Toffees often relying on the magic of their former number ten to get them out of some sticky situations.
Everton are crying out for an equally impactful figure to lead the line under Moyes, as the mid-table side have been plagued by numerous goalless games this season, with December seeing the Merseysiders draw blanks in three consecutive Premier League games.
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Toney’s goalscoring record under Frank |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistical |
Tony |
|
Games played |
141 |
|
Minutes played |
11,992 minutes |
|
Goals scored |
72 |
|
Aids |
23 |
|
Hat tricks |
2 |
|
From Transfermarkt |
|
That’s where Toney could come to the rescue, looking at the table above, with the 6ft 1in marksman hailed as a “special” presence in front of goal by his former Bees boss Thomas Frank when he delivered a devastating 72 strikes in 141 games during the Dane’s tenure at the G-Tech Community Stadium.
Moyes hopes he can form a similarly sizzling relationship with the seven-time England international if a bold move succeeds, with the Glaswegian responsible for getting 55 strikes from Michail Antonio at West Ham United, while also working alongside memorable strikers such as Lukaku during his first Everton reign with Tim Cahill and Steven Pienaar.
The “remarkable” goalscorer – as he was also hailed by Frank – has not seen his goals dry up in the Middle East either, as his 43 goals show and that matters for Al Ahli, as Toney continues to impress wherever he goes, much like the well-traveled Belgian.
The financial aspects of this deal make it a very unlikely deal, with the Strand Larsen signing being much easier and less expensive to seal.
But, if arrangements can be made for Everton to somehow get around his high wages, winning Toney in January could see a second coming of Lukaku arrive on Merseyside.
Everton considering signing one of the best players in the league
He blew away the scouts who were extremely impressed…
