Paul Merson reacts to Everton transfer update live on Sky Sports with Viktor Gyokeres one of six players named
Everton look set to fail in the pursuit of six attacking transfer targets on deadline day following Kamaldeen Sulemana’s agreement with Southampton, according to Sky Sports.
Reporter Vinny O’Connor provided a miserable update from Finch Farm at lunchtime on Tuesday (31 January) in the wake of the Rennes winger choosing a move to St Mary’s.
It now appears that Sean Dyche is going to need to look a long way down the list of targets if he is going to receive any reinforcements before the deadline, with Paul Merson admitting he has serious concern for the situation at Goodison given Anthony Gordon has also been sold.
O’Connor summarised his update live on Sky Sports by posting on Twitter: “So Sulemana off to Southampton….regarding other players linked with Everton, we are told nothing happening with Victor Gyokeres, Thorgan Hazard, Paul Onuachu, Sheraldo Becker and Andre Ayew.”
Responding live on Sky Sports following O’Connor’s update a hour later (1.46pm) with the same message, Merson said: “I really worry for Everton, they’ve been well and truly weakened”.
He added soon after (1.52pm): “It’s getting down to desperate now.”
Bleak
Everybody can see that the Toffees need more goal scoring ability, which was already true when Frank Lampard was sacked, but with Gordon sold to Newcastle since then the requirement is even greater.
But currently it is much the same old story as door after door gets shut in their face, leaving the club scrambling on the final day.
It was already going to be a stressful day for Everton fans given that Dyche has had little more than deadline day itself to join the work in the transfer market, but as the hours tick by it is getting more pressing.
The new manager’s coaching ability is going to be tested to its limit if he has to make do with the current squad, which he finds sitting 19th in the Premier League.
Things are shaping up for a nail-biting final few hours of the window, and past that it will be the same for the remaining months of the season.
There should be some opportunities thrown up before 11pm as other clubs also get desperate, but whether they will prove to be the right ones is another matter.