Here are possible Moise Kean replacements that Everton must consider
Everton are staring at an imminent sale of Moise Kean. The 21 year old struggled to make an impact in his debut season at Goodison Park before eventually moving out on loan to PSG last summer. Courtesy of the loan deal being without a buy option, the Ligue 1 giants will have to negotiate a transfer separately but Juventus also dream of a reunion.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been on an uphill trajectory this season and has shown the Everton faithful that they have a fierce, instinctive striker who could feature in the forward line for years. Even though the Englishman has slowed down a little in the second half of the season, it doesn’t overshadow the fruitful campaign he has had.
The Toffees have struggled to have a strong backup to DCL. Cenk Tosun was ineffective before he left on loan to Besiktas. The Royal Blues managed to sign Joshua King on a short loan from AFC Bournemouth on winter transfer deadline day. The Norwegian has made cameo appearances and is yet to start a game for the Toffees, posing questions over his long term stay in Merseyside.
Everton strengthened their defence and midfield last summer but this summer one of the agendas would be to find a Moise Kean replacement who will also act as a Calvert-Lewin backup in the team.
Here are five strikers Everton must look at for replacing Moise Kean:
Everton have been linked to Andrea Belotti before
1. Andrea Belotti (Torino)
Torino captain and their main striker Andrea Belotti is mulling over his future and has refused to sign a contract extension despite the efforts of Torino president Urbano Cairo. The Italian has been with I Granata since 2015, scoring 107 goals for the Turin side.
Belotti is set to enter the final year of his contract this summer and is considering a move away to show that he can score goals even at the highest level. Torino are languishing in 15th place in Serie A, four points above the drop zone.
Everton have already been credited with an interest alongside Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and sides from Italy. Belotti is having another fruitful campaign in the maroon colours of Torino, scoring 13 goals and assisting another seven in 35 Serie A games.
At 27, he knows that it would take a miracle for Torino to play in Europe and if he does stay in Turin, his chances of playing European football get dim with each passing season. In the past seven seasons, the Il Toro have managed to finish in top seven just once.
Belotti’s quality and hunger drives him to prove himself on a bigger stage and quite simply it doesn’t get any bigger than the Premier League. The suitors of Belotti have reportedly received a boost as the former Palermo striker could be available for a quarter of his €100 million release clause.
Now, the rampaging forward won’t be ready to accept a bits and parts role at any club. At Everton, he doesn’t have to act as a backup to Calvert-Lewin but instead can play in the front in a two striker formation with Richarlison playing on wide left.
At £23 million, he could be a steal for the Toffees but with stern competition from the likes of Chelsea, Spurs, AS Roma and other sides, Ancelotti will have a daunting task to convince Belotti to join the Toffees over the aforementioned sides especially after the failure to secure European football next season.
Sasa Kalajdzic has garnered praises with his eye catching form
2. Sasa Kalajdzic (VfB Stuttgart)
VfB Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic has been creating headlines in his breakthrough season. The 23 year old has notched 17 goals in 36 games for the Die Schaben this term. Even though the Austrian made his Stuttgart debut last season, when they played in the German second division, this season can be nailed down as his breakthrough season.
Kalajdzic’s exploits with Stuttgart haven’t gone unnoticed as several clubs are already tracking the Austrian. From England, Everton West Ham United, Liverpool and Tottenham have been linked whereas RB Leipzig and AS Roma also continue to be mentioned as interested parties.
Despite growing interest across Europe for Kalajdzic, Stuttgart Sporting director Sven Mislintat has played down the talks of a transfer with no concrete offer arriving at the table for the Austrian yet.
The Austrian is still in his developmental stages of his career but has provided enough evidence already to convince clubs across Europe of his ability. The towering figure of Kalajdzic allows him to aerially bully and dominate defenders. The tallest striker in Bundesliga has won 102 aerial duels further proving his prowess in the air.
Kalajdzic has drawn comparisons to Peter Crouch and Mario Gomez for his build and style of play. The 23 year old can be very valuable to Everton if the Toffees do manage to sign him. He may not be a regular starter but can play an important role in the forward line. Kalajdzic provides backup to the forward duo of Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin without compromising much on quality or capabilities.
Ivan Toney has been flattered by the Premier League interest
3. Ivan Toney (Brentford)
Everton have been previously linked to Brentford striker Ivan Toney who was on an unstoppable goalscoring run, scoring 31 goals in the Championship. His exploits with the Bees have done enough to attract attention from the Premier League sides like Everton, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
His staggering numbers remain unmatched with his all-round attacking displays being one of the biggest contributors for Brentford’s third place finish in the Championship and their charge for Premier League football.
Toney is without Premier League experience but has shown through his skillsets and displays this term that he is more than ready to make the big leap to a Premier League club who are in the mix for European football. At the time of writing, Brentford have not yet secured English Top Flight status as they prepare a Wembley showdown against Swansea.
The Toffees missed out on European football but one cant deny the massive improvement over the past season. Carlo Ancelotti and Marcel Brands begun major squad surgery last season and it is expected that they will continue the second phase of the rebuild to make the team competitive enough and challenge for top six or even possibly top four next season.
Toney previously admitted that he is flattered by the interest from the Premier League sides but insisted he remains focused on Brentford and doing the job for them. Should Everton manage to beat the competition and sign Toney, Ancelotti could alter the formation or possibly deploy Richarlison on wings to offer directness and pace on the flanks while using Toney as a second striker.
The 25 year old’s current deal with the Bees runs till 2025 and has a market value of £16.2 million (Transfrmarkt). However, Brentford won’t sell their prized asset for cheap especially if they can guarantee Top Flight football for next season.
Patson Daka has produced some outstanding numbers this season in a RB Salzburg shirt
4. Patson Daka (RB Salzburg)
Patson Daka is another player who has been loosely linked with Everton previously. RB Salzburg have created a reputation for creating goal monsters. Post Erling Braut Haaland, Daka has carried forward the Salzburg strike force, scoring 34 goals and providing 12 assists in 42 games this term. The Zambian has also deservingly won the Austrian Bundesliga player of the season following a highly successful campaign.
Daka is a lethal finisher capable of shooting with either foot. The 22 year old doesn’t shy away from shooting and makes those shots stick on target, registering 2.21 shots on target per 90 minutes. The Zambian is quick, agile and keeps his cool in pressure situations. Daka is an expert at creating space for himself before launching the trigger, often using his quick feet to get away from the defender.
The Salzburg forward also has a penchant for making late runs in the box, taking defenders by surprise, often leaving them puzzled. Daka is also very intelligent when it comes to movement without the ball.
Everton need a striker of Daka’s calibre to ease the goalscoring load on the forwards. He could actually be an upgrade of sorts on Moise Kean. However, signing him would require Everton to beat the competition from the likes of West Ham United and Liverpool who are able to offer European football next season.
Abdallah Sima can be a part of a long term project at Everton
5. Abdallah Sima (Slavia Prague)
The last candidate who can be a Moise Kean replacement is Abdallah Sima of Slavia Prague. The 19 year old has broken through and smashed the Czech league apart. Sima has 20 goals in 39 games this term and has been one of the biggest contributors to Slavia’s league triumph.
Slavia Prague have been a happy hunting ground for Premier League sides and the Czech side have also demonstrated in the past that they can produce talent which can excel in the Premier Legaue. West Ham’s Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal attest the above notion.
Sima’s value can skyrocket as Manchester United, West Ham, Arsenal and Everton remain in the long list of suitors. The Senegalese can play as a pressing forward, helping the team to wear down its opponents and also be prolific in front of the goal. The hardworking forward can be deployed anywhere in the attack, capable of executing the role of an out and out forward and also playing as a winger or an inside forward.
Such versatility should appeal to the Toffees. Sima is nowhere close to a finished product, very similar to Moise Kean when he arrived at Merseyside. Sima can be a part of a similar project that was crafted specifically for Kean. At 19, he doesn’t have to immediately be a starter and can learn the trade and adjust to the style and pace of the Premier League.
Sima is reportedly open to a Premier League move in the summer which will act as a boost for English clubs who are in the chase. However, Slavia Prague had slapped a price tag of £50 million over the eye catching forward in January. Everton may not splash such a huge amount of cash but rigorous negotiations can bring down the asking price.
Which player should be selected as a Moise Kean replacement?