Everton have been left stranded with a weak and dysfunctional squad. The Toffees had an entire transfer window to sign players to improve the squad quality and build a team that can fight in the relegation battle. Incompetency of the highest level was on display as the Toffees failed to sign a single player throughout January.
Everton are the only Premier League side to not have signed a player in the January transfer window. It speaks volumes about the abilities of the higher ups at the club, leaving the fan base frustrated and clueless as to how the Toffees plan to fight a survival battle without strengthening the squad. It is like going into a gun fight with a knife in hand. You know that you are going to get killed.
Everton had the funds from Gordon’s sale to reinvest and build a competent squad, addressing the key areas. Despite trying to sign forwards like Olivier Giroud, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Paul Onuachu on deadline day, the Toffees fell short and did not get any deal over the line. Sean Dyche now has a mountain to climb, to prepare a squad fit for fighting the relegation battle.
With the transfer window now closed, EFC have no chance to sign any players from the clubs but they can look for free agents and still register them as new signings. The Toffees did make an attempt to sign Andre Ayew who is a free agent after he left the Qatari club, Al Sadd.
3 free agents Everton could sign
1. Artem Dzyuba
The 34 year old Russian striker is a free agent after leaving Adana Demirspor in November 2022. Dyzuba has played most of his football in Russia and only left Russia in August last summer. In 390 games he has played in the Russian Premier Liga, Dyzuba has netted 148 goals and provided 86 assists.
At 34, he has slowed down but even a cameo appearance could give Everton a real threat up front in the games. The burly 6 ft 6 inch striker can make defenders uncomfortable in the box and given how Dyche’s system relies on crossing the ball in the box, Dyzuba could be a real goal threat.
2. Isco
Everton have been lacking creativity while going forward and have never fully replaced James Rodriguez. The lack of creativity and imagination has also been one of the reasons for Everton’s low goalscoring. The Toffees need a creator in the side who can create goalscoring chances and feed them to the strikers.
Isco is a good shout, although he is injury prone. The Spaniard has been a free agent since leaving Sevilla in December and has been on the lookout for a new club since then. The 30 year old is a stand out player and on his day can bend the result of a game to his own will. Dyche’s formations and systems are generally conservative but having someone like Isco in the team will help the Merseysiders instantly unlock opposition defences.
3. Santiago Arias
Nathan Patterson is on the sidelines with a knee injury that will keep him out of action for six weeks. Earlier in the season, the Scotsman picked up an ankle injury on international duty. In his absence Seamus Coleman is starting every game in the right back role. Even though Patterson will return after six weeks, the Toffees must look at another right back at least until the end of the season.
Santiago Arias is a name that has been linked with Everton in the past, back when Carlo Ancelotti was in charge. Arias at 31 still has gas in the tank and should be a dependable backup option for the Toffees. He has played in a 4-4-2 system before and would be comfortable carrying out the role for EFC.
Should the Toffees sign any free agents?