Despite a 0-1 loss to Chelsea on Saturday and the loss of Ben Godfrey to a broken leg and Yerri Mina to whatever lastest ailment, it was a pretty good performance.
After Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury (Is he sitting next to Mina?) And Solomon Rondon’s absence, Frank Lampard sent out a team without a recognized striker. There were chances for Everton, but nobody was able to convert one, while Chelsea converted a penalty.
Lampard and Director of Football Kevin Thelwell seem to have control of the transfer business and are looking to erase the colossal mistakes of prior regimes.
They are on the verge of bringing in Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana (he was at Goodison on Saturday.) Connor Coady was photographed arriving at Finch Farm and signing an Everton shirt. Idressa Gaye is apparently waiting for a visa to make a return to Everton.
With DCL, suddenly becoming injury-prone, there’s a No. 9-sized hole to be filled. So Everton are being linked with a number of strikers. DCL looks to be out for six weeks.
According to a number of reports, the Blues are looking at Ludovic Arjorque of Strasbourg. Arjorgue is a big lad at 6-foot-6 and scored 12 goals last season. But that 12 goals in the French League. Not sure how to work it out, but 12 goals in France, rarely translate into the same in the Premier League, especially in the first season. Considering the crossing ability Everton have a tall, powerful striker would be a good move.
The Daily Fail says Everton are interested in Sasa Kalajdzic, another big lad at 6-6, who is reportedly available for £15 million, but nobody really trusts this paper on anything.
French sources say Everton are interested in Serhou Guirassy, who plays for Rennes and at 6-2 would be a decent target for crosses from the likes of Dwight McNeil, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Nathan Patterson, Demari Gray, and Anthony Gordon. Attention Geordies, Gordon is a Scouser and plays for his boyhood club. Not even Bill Kenwright is thick enough to sell Gordon unless the price is exorbitant.
Lampard's links with Chelsea are well-known and two names are prominent as possible Everton strikers. Armando Broja did come on as a substitute, and it’s rumoured Lampard favours him more than Michyi Batshuayi. Sheffield United’s Daniel Jebberson is also reportedly attracting Everton’s attention. The England U-19 international definitely left a mark when he scored at Goodison a few seasons ago as United won 1-0.
With the transfer window closing on 1 Sept., there’s no doubt given the recent flurry of activity, one or two strikers will come in.
Just to remind Newcastle, the only way Gordon is going to Geordie-land is if Eddie Howe comes and kidnaps him. Jesus lads, lay of the Brown.