Anthony Onifade

Sun 26 March 2023 7:10, UK

Everton’s lacklustre attack has been a major issue amongst the fans all season and it’s an area Sean Dyche and the Toffees board will be keen to address this summer.

Everton boss Dyche entered into his new Toffees job short on attacking quality, with the Toffees selling Anthony Gordon to Newcastle United for £45m a day before the January transfer deadline-day [Sky Sports, 30 January]

The former Burnley boss has only been able to call upon Alex Iwobi, former protegé Dwight McNeil and Demarai Gray as his only real sources of creativity in the wide areas and he’s done well to get the best out of his attacking weaponry so far, picking up 11 points from his eight Premier League games in charge.

However, Everton are amongst the joint-lowest scorers in the league with just 22 goals from 28 games – a very poor return and the Blues will be desperately keen to reinforce their attacking options in the off-season, especially with key man Iwobi facing an uncertain future at Goodison Park.

Here Goodison News takes a look at three players sporting director Kevin Thelwell could have his eye on heading into the off-season, providing the club secure their status in the Premier League.

Samuel Chukwueze

Chukwueze reportedly faces a transfer dilemma at Villarreal this summer, with Everton having shown an interest in the Nigerian winger last year, according to AS on 22 March.

The Toffees were admirers of the electric fleet-footed winger last year, and the winger could set to become available this summer.

Chukwueze has been in superb form for Villarreal this season, with the 23-year-old boasting tallies of 11 goals and 11 assists. Everton could seriously do with those creative and attacking qualities right now as the Toffees look to steer clear of the drop zone.

The Nigerian international has long been primed to make the step up to the English top flight and providing the Toffees cement their status in the division, Goodison Park may well represent the perfect next step for the talented forward.

Reiss Nelson

90min revealed on 5 March that Nelson isn’t close to agreeing to a new contract with the Gunners and the Toffees were earmarked for a potential summer move, given his lack of opportunities at the Emirates Stadium.

Nelson has long been described by Mikel Arteta as a “special” talent and the Blues would do well to recruit his services this summer.

The 23-year-old yet again showed his quality for Arsenal in the Gunners’ 3-2 comeback win over Bournemouth on 4 March, with the forward grabbing a last-minute winner at the Emirates Stadium.

He has three goals and two assists in just three substitute appearances in the top flight, stats that yet again prove he is ready to become an out-and-out starter for a Premier League club. Nelson’s unique gifts and potential simply cannot be ignored and Dyche would be silly not to make an attempt for the former England Under-21 star.

He seems the most likely out of the three options to make the move to the Merseysiders.

Noa Lang

Lang, who featured for the Netherlands at the World Cup in Qatar, was said to likely to be on the move in January according to Fabrizio Romano [Caught Offside] with the Belgian giants demanding £31m.

The Toffees have been linked with Lang in the past with former Eurosport journalist Dean Jones [GiveMeSport, 27 December] claiming that the Blues could be an option for the forward alongside Leeds United.

The Dutch starlet has continued his fine form from last season, where he provided 19 goal contributions in the Belgian top flight, and has recorded five goals and three assists across this term.

£31m for a proven European attacker, described as an “artist” by Opta Johan for his tremendous exploits in the UEFA Europa League, is an absolute no-brainer.

A player who can allow the Everton faithful to quickly forget about Gordon.