There’s no doubting the talent that Romelu Lukaku has, and his seven Premier League goals in nine appearances this term is testament to that. Those goals have played an integral role in lifting Everton to seventh in the table, but a fair criticism would be that without the Belgian international’s efforts they wouldn’t be in such a promising position right now.
With Lukaku being such a talisman for the club, there is always the danger of over-reliance – Tottenham fans only have to point to the injury to Harry Kane to show how the absence of a key player can derail a club’s season.
Although Lukaku missed the first two games of the season his form and fitness has been second to none as of late, but should the worst happen and he does have a lengthy spell on the sidelines then you do have to wonder who could step up to the plate and be a worthwhile replacement.
Once you go past the former Chelsea striker, the options don’t look particularly impressive. On loan Ecuadorian Enner Valencia has got nowhere near the side, while Arouna Kone’s time has been limited since Ronald Koeman took charge of the club. That said the situation is even worse for Oumar Niasse – purchased for £11m by Roberto Martinez in January the Nigerian has not even been offered a squad number for this season.
If Everton want to secure European football again then they will have to reinforce their squad in January to make sure they can keep pace with the half-dozen clubs that currently sit above them in the league table.
So, let’s now take a look at FIVE potential transfer targets that could make their way to Merseyside in the New Year
Memphis Depay
Of the many players that Jose Mourinho has had a run in with at Manchester United this season, it seems as if Depay is one of the ones that has fallen out of favour the most, and you now have to question how much longer the Dutchman has at Old Trafford.
Brought to the club last season under much fanfare, the former PSV Eindhoven man has failed to live up to the hype and expectation that many had when the 22-year-old was snapped up by Louis van Gaal. Only two goals in 33 league appearances is not the return expected of a player many former professionals have tipped for success.
And it’s Everton that may enable him to get closer to the potential that he has. The chance to once again link up with a Dutch manager could do Depay the world of good and unlock the talent that we saw him show at PSV, where he scored 22 goals in their title-winning 2014/15 season. The Old Trafford stint hasn’t worked for Depay but at his age, we certainly shouldn’t write him off just yet.
Manolo Gabbiadini
A versatile forward, Gabbiadini has been linked with a whole host of Premier League clubs with Everton reported to be one of the ones at the front of the queue over the summer.
The Napoli star scored five goals in 23 Serie A appearances last season but it seems as if life after Gonzalo Higuain is proving tough for the Neapolitans, as he has only managed to register a solitary goal in this current campaign. However, there is no doubting the talents that the 24-year-old has to offer.
What will be most appealing to Everton is the fact that he can play in all manner of attacking roles, therefore he wouldn’t be purchased just to slot in in Lukaku’s absence, and he could also compliment him by providing the service that he requires to torment opposition defences.
Lukasz Teodorczyk
Another man on Everton’s radar is Polish forward Lukasz Teodorczyk and it is believed that £12m could be enough to prise him from Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kiev. However, it’s not the Ukrainian Premier League in which Teodorczyk is shining, it’s instead the Belgian Pro League with Anderlecht, where he is currently on loan.
His 14 goals this season have put him on the radars of a handful of Premier League clubs who may well look to compete for his signature in the New Year. Teodorczyk has got Champions League experience and faced Manchester City last season in the Round of 16.
If Everton are going to capture the signature of the 25-year-old Polish international then their main competition will come from Anderlecht themselves, who have a clause to make the deal permanent. You would imagine, should his goalscoring exploits continue, then they will certainly want to. If that is the case, Everton will just have to hope that the lure of the Premier League is strong enough to convince him to sign.
Charlie Austin
Brought to Southampton by Koeman back in January of this year, their working relationship was obviously cut short by the Dutchman’s departure from the club to move up to Merseyside. But could Koeman now look to revive that relationship in the blue of Everton?
After scoring just a solitary goal for Southampton last season, Austin has found the net with more regularity this season with the 27-year-old bagging five in ten appearances, and it’s that rate of one goal in two which may alert the Everton hierarchy to him.
It only cost the relative bargain of £4m for Austin to make the move from Queens Park Rangers to Southampton and if Everton were to perhaps test the waters with a bid in the £8m-10m bracket then there is every chance that manager and striker could be linking up again come January.
Rachid Ghezzal
Everton are believed to have made a £9m bid for Ghezzal in the summer only to see a potential deal fall apart. But, with Ghezzal out of contract in mid-2017, there is every chance they could try their luck again in January.
Everton have already been rebuffed once but will they get their man second time around? Maybe.
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