View: Ghosts of Walcott & Mangala may be influencing Everton transfer strategy
Everton have been linked with several targets this month but are on course for a big mistake if they fail to bring anybody in.
The Toffees have not been big fans of the January transfer window, deciding against new signings in both 2019 and 2020.
Part of the motivation behind that may be the dreadful activity conducted in 2018, when Theo Walcott, Eliaquim Mangala and Cenk Tosun arrived on Merseyside.
It can be argued that all three were flops, with the latter the only surviving member in the squad currently.
However, the Turk has only scored 11 goals in 58 games despite costing £27million, and it seems the club are aiming to prevent a similar mistake this time around.
Carlo Ancelotti made five signings in the summer and many have proved a success so far, so it is a little surprising that he hasn’t sought to boost the squad, particularly as we are only one point off the top four.
Bayern Munich’s Joshua Zirkzee is the latest name to be mentioned, linked with a potential loan move, and that is an avenue worth pursuing.
Zirkzee scored an impressive four goals in 295 minutes for Bayern Munich in 2019/20, and could be a like-for-like replacement for Dominic Calvert-Lewin when he is sidelined – as he is currently.
Whether Zirkzee would be a success is difficult to say at this point, but a loan move for the 19-year-old or another target could be hugely beneficial.
Any loan move is relatively risk-free due to it being inexpensive and short-term, and if the player does impress there is always the potential to keep them at the club permanently.
TalkSPORT report that is the case with Zirkzee, and we wish that we had tested Moise Kean on a trial run, too.
It is perfectly understandable if the club is purposefully avoiding big names like the players signed under Sam Allardyce two years ago, but refusing to conduct any business could hinder us.
Ancelotti doesn’t deserve that and nor do the players, and if the club serious about European football next season they should step up their transfer activity.
In other Everton news, Kevin Campbell has given his verdict on the upcoming FA Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday.