By Nick Ware

14th Jan, 2021 | 1:58pm

Athletic journalist hears talk linking Everton with Bournemouth forward King

The Athletic’s Greg O’Keeffe has tipped Everton to dip into the transfer market amid talk of interest in Bournemouth striker Joshua King.

Everton are yet to sign anyone in January after a flurry of activity in the summer window saw them bring in a number of key players such as James Rodriguez, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan, all of whom have had substantial impacts on the team so far this season.

After edging Wolves 2-1 on Tuesday evening the Blues now sit fifth in a congested Premier League and look sure-fire European contenders.

Whether they can get over the line, however, could go down to the small margins and adding depth in the squad might go a long way to securing their place on the continental stage next season.

In the Athletic’s ‘Gwlad Tidings’ podcast (14/01/21) Everton writer O’Keeffe divulged some transfer gossip and whether he thinks the club will do some business in January, saying: “Knowing what Farhad Moshiri is like if there is an opportunity and Carlo goes for it and says I think this player will make a massive difference…if it’s doable I wouldn’t rule out Moshiri trying to make it happen.

“I’ve heard talk, and at this stage speculation, of a Josh King. I certainly think he’d be a decent option, 28 [years-old] with only six months left on his contract at Bournemouth.

He added: “We’ve been lucky to get so much of an interrupted run from Calvert-Lewin and in the end probably flogged him a bit too hard.”

Striker shortage could spark Blues into action

The last quote certainly rings true and is why many Blues fans will be desperate for Moshiri to sanction a January move for a striker.

Calvert-Lewin was an ever-present in the Everton Premier League side until Tuesday’s trip to Molineux which he missed with a hamstring injury.

Ancelotti has not divulged the duration of time that the England international will spend on the sidelines but it is a concern despite the side’s brilliant win at Wolves.

Calvert-Lewin has scored 11 of Everton’s 28 Premier League goals this season and is their highest scorer by a long margin, with centre back Michael Keane next on the list with three, alongside Rodriguez.

Ancelotti lined up with the Colombian next to Gylfi Sigurdsson in an almost ‘double false nine’ as the pair dropped into deep central areas for the likes of Alex Iwobi and Lucas Digne to utilise the space in behind.

Richarlison was only a sub after suffering with a knock and he can fill in up front but the only other natural centre forward at the club is Cenk Tosun, and it is telling that Ancelotti neglected to even use the Turkey international from the bench against Wolves.

Therefore links to King would make sense with his ability to play in a number of forward positions, including centre forward, and a career tally of 48 Premier League goals, compared to Tosun’s ten.

It could make all the difference ahead of a big second half of the season for Ancelotti and his charges.

In other Everton news, Adrian Durham deliver big claim on the Blues’ vital victory over Wolves.