Everton now have new transfer priority for January window
Frank Lampard has prioritised Everton signing a new striker in January to take the pressure off the injury-plagued Dominic Calvert-Lewin, according to Mail Sport.
The Toffees manager had hoped that the English striker could lead the line for his side this season, but a build-up of injuries have left him sidelined for large portions of the season.
Calvert-Lewin will miss the crucial trip to Bournemouth after coming off against Leicester with hamstring damage, and a dislocated shoulder and recurring knee injuries have meant the striker has scored just one goal this season.
Everton’s lack of potency in front of goal is the second-worst record in the league, with the hierarchy at Goodison Park now understanding the need for new additions.
“It’s not my job to be sure of exactly what we’ve got (to spend) but I know we’ve got the support and a joined up understanding that we want to help the squad in January,” Lampard told Mail Sport.
“Generally players who are playing well stay where they are and big moves rarely happen, or if they do, they are at the top end – and we won’t be at that end.
“We’ll be looking at how we can help the squad in different ways, maybe with different profiles to what we’ve got.”
Reinforcements needed
The January transfer window can’t come soon enough for Lampard’s misfiring Everton side. With Calvert-Lewin now out injured once again, pressure falls on Neal Maupay’s shoulders to start scoring and fast – however his solitary goal in the league this season doesn’t bode well.
Antony Gordon and Dwight McNeill are the only two Everton players to score more than one goal in the league this season, which clearly highlights the issues Lampard faces.
The tough decision will be how high to bid for a potential new striker, as notoriously January is a tough window to get it right in. If Everton openly express their desire for a striker, they run the risk of being held to ransom by other clubs who could sense the desperate situation the Toffees find themselves in.
The potential size of the signing will depend on outgoings – most notably Antony Gordon’s position at the club – with the likes of Cody Gakpo wanted, but they would have to cough up a fee in the region of £40million or more.