A Crystal Palace striker previouly linked with a move to Everton is apparently ready to leave the London club. Could he be coming to Goodison Park?
The player is Jean-Philippe Mateta and according to media sources the 25-year-old Frenchman is considering leaving Selhurst Park for pastures new.
Everton are in the market for new forwards, at least two, which is obviously the most pressing need the manager has for the summer transfer window.
Mateta is one of a number of players who have cropped up in various media outlets as the rumour mill continues to churn out names.
The Palace player hasn’t exactly set the Premier League alight last season as he only managed two goals for the Eagles.
To be fair, he didn’t start many games only six with over twenty appearances off the bench so he wasn’t getting much chance to show what he could do.
One of Mateta’s strengths apprarently, is his abiltiy to bring other players into the attack the ball up and be a focal point up front.
That is certainly something Everton lacked for most of last season with Dominic Calvert-Lewin being absent from the team for most of the campaign.
When the former England centre-forward did briefly return to the team it made avery significance difference and the Blues looked a better side all round.
I’m not sure if Mateta is a good option and Ithink there are other better choices and players who offer more of a goal threat. But, perhaps he would work well alongside another striker.
One of those other forward options and one I think the Toffees really should be after is Viktor Gyokeres.
According to other stories both Fulham and Palace themselves are ready to make serious bids for the Coventry and Sweden star.
If so, unless Everton are able and willing to move quickly they may well lose out on the talented goalscorer who netted twenty-one times last season.
Although the transfer window hasn’t offically opened yet clubs are already making moves to secure players. The Blues need to ensure they don’t leave it late again as so often in past transfer windows.