Everton boss David Moyes is, it seems, determined to bring in a specialist right-sided attacker before the transfer window closes, and was very keen on Tyler Dibling to be that player.
However, the South Coast club have rejected three separate bids from the Blues, and it now appears likely that any possible deal is off.
Even if he had signed, there were potential issues around whether Dibling would be able to come into the Toffees team and contribute straight away.
Everton are exploring a loan move for Jack Grealish, but regardless of whether he signs, if they are also still looking for a right-winger, who could they target next to solve this pressing issue?
The obvious candidate would be another Championship player, West Bromwich Albion's Tom Fellows, who has just enjoyed a standout campaign with the Baggies in 2024-25.
Fellows has previously been linked with the Blues earlier in the transfer window. The problem is he has no Premier League experience, and while he produced an excellent season's return in the Championship, including fourteen assists, could he reproduce that in the top flight and straight away?
Perhaps Everton need to look abroad and quickly for the player they require, and there are a few potential options to explore in other European leagues.
One such player is Japanese international Ritsu Doan, who is currently playing in the German Bundesliga for Freiburg.
Doan is a left-footed right winger (just like Dibling) who can also play in the centre and up front. At 27, he is approaching his peak, and last season he notched an impressive ten goals for the German side.
Looking at his market value, a bid of around £25 million at a minimum would be required to potentially entice his current employers to consider a sale. That is, though, much lower than the asking price Southampton are demanding for Dibling.
Again, although he does not have English Premier League experience, he has been performing very well in a top-five European league.
Another Bundesliga player who might be worth a look at is Borussia Monchengladbach's Franck Honorat, who joined them from the French league in 2023.
Honorat is not as productive as Doan up front and only managed four goals last season, although he did chip in with seven assists. The Frenchman would also be a considerably cheaper option, being valued at around £12 million.
These are just two possible players for Everton to run the rule over as they look for affordable alternatives to solve the right side riddle that has plagued the club for so long.