Everton prioritising January transfer for Chicago Fire striker John Duran
The Everton pursuit of Chicago Fire striker John Duran, 19, is reportedly standing out in the list of their prospective targets for the January transfer window
According to Give Me Sport journalist Simon Phillips [26 December], Frank Lampard is pushing hard for the Toffees hierarchy to bring in the new year.
The Toffees have been one of the league’s lowest goal scorers with 12 and only Wolves (10) and Nottingham Forest (11) have found the back of the net on fewer occasions.
Phillips said, “There’s a few names they’ve been looking at. The only one that really stands out and I have had solid information on lately is Jhon Duran.
“Everton are there and are one of the clubs that are looking at him. But there are other names and Lampard is pushing hard now to bring a new striker in during January.”
Unproven
It’s understood that Everton, along with West Ham have already made approaches to sign the teenage striker in January.
However, Duran has not been proven outside the MLS and signing him would represent a big risk, something the Toffees are in no position to do.
He has been credited by WhoScored for an “Excellent” breakthrough season in the American league, but the level of competition there is nothing compared to the Premier League.
If he actually is on the priority list at Goodison Park, then it’s a worrying sign as he’s not going to strengthen the first team.
He may be a decent option for the future but the Toffees need someone who walks into the playing eleven and gets them goals.
Frank Lampard’s already feeling the pressure with back-to-back relegation battles and even now, the club are narrowly out of the relegation zone.
They cannot progress if they’re targeting players like Duran as their priority as it shows that there’s a lack of coherent planning behind the scenes.