Matt Holland: Everton loan move for Ellis Simms was a surprise
Matt Holland believes Everton allowing striker Ellis Simms leave Goodison Park was a surprise considering the lack of strikers at the club.
The Toffees are in desperate need of a new forward and are eying a move for Brighton striker Neal Maupay according to the Daily Mail (12 August, page 81).
However, Holland has suggested that Everton’s lack of cutting edge is costing them despite looking promising in their opening fixtures.
Talking on talkSPORT GameDay Podcast (18 August, 45:10), Holland said: “I was at Goodison Park for the first game and they looked full of energy and commitment but they look really short at the top end of the pitch.
“I was a little bit surprised that they let Ellis Simms go out on loan considering the injury issues they’ve got upfront.
“The top end of the pitch is a real problem and it needs to improve.”
He’s not wrong
It was a bold move by the club to allow Simms to leave the club this summer considering the lack of options Frank Lampard has at his disposal at the moment.
Playing regular first-team football for Simms was essential for the 21-year-old to continue his development.
He has certainly hit the ground running at Sunderland with Simms scoring three goals in three games for the Black cats.
His form for the Championship club could well have raised a few eyebrows at Goodison Park considering the options that Lampard has to choose from at the moment.
It may have been a better decision to keep the 21-year-old until Everton managed to land a striker that could lead the line for them in the Premier League.
What is crucial is that a forward comes through the door at Goodison Park within the next week.
The Toffees are already playing catch up after opening their campaign with two defeats.
Everton welcome big-spending Nottingham Forest to Goodison Park on Saturday (20 August) as the Toffees look to get off the mark in the 2022/23 Premier League campaign.