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Are Everton eyeing American striker Dike

By Matt Townsend

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Daryl Dike of Barnsley celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Queens Park Rangers and Barnsley at The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on March 03, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Daryl Dike of Barnsley celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Queens Park Rangers and Barnsley at The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on March 03, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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Transfer rumours are coming thick and fast at the moment and today’s candidate for the least probable is a story claiming Everton are eyeing up a move for young USA striker Daryl Dike.

This rumour is centered on the 20-year-old American forward who is currently on loan in the Championship with Barnsley and is apparently of interest to the Everton brass.

Links to North American forwards seems to be all the rage this week with earlier claims that the Toffees were considering a swap deal with Besiktas for their Canadian attacker Cyle Larin.

Dike plays for Orlando City in Major League Soccer but has been on loan for the past few months in England playing for the Yorkshire club. if nothing else that’s quite a change in climate for him!

Nevertheless he seems to have settled in well and has scored five goals in eight apperances so far as Barnsley battle to secure a playoff place.

Dike is a big, powerful centre-forward who is particularly strong in the air making him very similar to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, which is presumably why the link is being made.

The Blues do need more reinforcements up front and players who can provide additional width, pace and goals to an attack that too often has been blunt and over-reliant on Calvert-Lewin this season.

They also probably need a back-up to him. In Calvert-Lewin’s absence the current options are either to move Richarlison to centre-forward or try on-loan Josh King in that position, although he’s hardly impressed since his deadline day move in January.

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Long-term the only other senior alternative is Cenk Tosun but of course the Turkish striker has been a major disappointment since his move to Goodison Park and doesn’t seem to have a future at the club.

There have been a number of stories about various forwards who may or may not be on the radar of Carlo Ancelotti and Marcel Brands as they ponder their plans for this summer transfer window.

The Toffees priority is finding the quality and pace on the right side of the team to give added width and creatvity and the goal threat needed.

This would involve looking at new options to take over from Seamus Coleman at right-back as well as wingers, if they can’t find a player able to do both.

A back-up for Calvert-Lewin wouldn’t be a bad idea, but I doubt Dike is a realistic option and of the two North American forwards I think Larin is actually the better bet.

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