As supporters continue to reflect on the first home defeat of the season for Everton by West Ham, Sunday’s result underlined how important the upcoming transfer window could be.
Given the huge financial constraints he was working with, Everton boss Rafa Benitez did a good job overall recruiting talent on a shoestring this summer and both his wide outfield signings Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray have been outstanding additions.
Again, against the Hammers they played well enough and made a few good chances none of which were taken by the team’s other misfiring forwards.
One of those players is deadline day signing Salomon Rondon who has not been able to offer much at all in the absence of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
On Sunday he missed a few opportunities again and failed to offer any real consistent threat up front. To be fair to him he wasn’t signed to play week-in-week-out and should really only be expected to come on for a few minutes as a substitute.
Although he might still improve, it does look as though he could be a busted flush, lacking the pace, energy and sharpness to be a Premier League centre-forward anymore.
Benitez and all Everton fans will be desperately hoping at least one or other if not both, of the first-choice strikers will be fit again at last for Saturday’s match against Watford.
But, ideally the Toffees need additions (if they can get them when the new year transfer window opens) to sustain the generally solid form they have shown over the first quarter of the season.
January is a notoriously difficult period to sign players given the compressed time-frame and reluctance of many clubs to sell mid-season.
Well, pundits are now speculating on how many players the cash-strapped Blues might be looking to sign in the next window.
The general speculation is that Everton will have about £10 million to spend, unless they can also shift a few squad players early on. So what are the priorities for the club come January?
The obvious and most pressing priority would be finally finding that right-back replacement that the Toffees have been trying to sign for so long.
However, while it might be possible to get a young prospect like Calvin Ramsey in January for a small fee, perhaps given how important it is to get this right, it might be a signing that should be made in the summer when there is more time to assess all the potential options and additions.
Of course a loan deal might be done for a player but again this is more diffcult in the January window. Perhaps Benitez can work some more magic again?
But if not, in the end while it’s far from ideal, Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate could fill in I suppose if Seamus Coleman is injured again and get the team through to the end of the season.
Given the endless injury problems the Toffees deal with, especially to their centre-forwards, and Rondon’s current failures, perhaps in January it might be necessary to concentrate on ensuring the Blues have other forward alternatives.
With little money to spend the club might be forced to look at Championship players although you can still find good, affordable players there and one who might fit the bill is QPR’s Lyndon Dykes.
The Scot is a traditional centre-forward type who could offer the threat in the air and finishing that the Toffees need if Calvert-Lewin in particular is out. But, it’s probable Rangers wouldn’t sell in January while they have hopes of promotion.
Well whatever Everton decide it’s going to be a challenge for the club to bring in any more quality talent in January, whether it’s permanent or on loan. But, if they can, it might prove crucial to the eventual outcome of the season.
Do you think Everton be active in the new year or save their cash for the summer window?