Still no new striker in as Everton host promoted Forest at Goodison

With two days to go until Everton welcome promoted Nottingham Forest at Goodsion Park in their third fixture of the new season, the Blues’ still haven’t signed any new strikers.

So, as we wait and wait for any sign of forward additions, on Saturday afternoon Everton are hosting an ambitious Forest side who’ve spent big this summer.

The Midlands club have shown willingness to go for it in the transfer window and just this afternoon have secured another expensive addition to their squad; Morgan Gibbs-White.

As we all know, the former Wolves forward was a player the Toffees’ were apparently very keen to sign earlier in the window.

Everton were supposed to have made offers for the England Under-21 player, but after considerable uncertainty he eventually claimed he wanted to stay at Molineux and fight for a place in the Wolves team.

Well, that’s obviously changed and he now seems happy to move to another Premier League club, just not the Blues’.

It’s telling and not in a good way that a talented young star who the Toffees’ were seemingly desperate to sign, has chosen to go to a newly promoted club over Everton.

Forest had also previously strengthened their attack and signed another player long linked with a move to Merseyside.

That was of course Emmanuel Dennis. The Watford forward, who always seemed a decent bet for the Blues’, has decided to return to the top flight with Forest after the Toffees’ dithered and failed to show any concrete sign they wanted him.

All this means that the newly promoted club are the ones who look much more likely than their hosts to score goals in the Premier League this season.

There are just under 48 hours until kick-off and I’m going to go out on a limb here and bet Everton won’t have another striker signed in time for this match!

So, what does that mean for Saturday’s line-up?

Presumably, with rumours of Dele Alli’s exit gathering momentum, Salomon Rondon will start at centre-forward, there’s obviously no one else.

That’s unless Frank Lampard persists with his failed experiment of playing Anthony Gordon as a sort of false number nine.

Then again, there are strong rumours that Chelsea are determined to prise him away from Merseyside and that he also wants the move. So, will his head be right for Saturday if Lampard decides to stick with this system?

It’s a real mess and once again the Blues’ are going into a game without a clear attacking strategy or an obvious goal threat. Is this situation ever going to get sorted out?

As the defence looks pretty much settled, the other selection question is who will start in midfield?

With the saga of Idrissa Gueye’s re-signing still dragging on and after Abdoulaye Doucoure left the pitch last weekend leaving uncertainty about his fitness, perhaps Tom Davies will start alongisde Alex Iwobi or possibly new signing Amadou Onana.

The Belgian looked bright and powerful when he came on last Saturday but he’s obviously still getting a feel for English football.

I’ve said before that I don’t think Everton can’t afford to lose this match after defeats in their last two games of this new campaign.

Three straight losses would leave the Toffees’ in a very difficult position and it would be tough to turn around that losing momentum.