Sean Dyche updates on Everton striker hunt amid Che Adams rumours
Sean Dyche accepts Everton cannot rely solely on Dominic Calvert-Lewin to lead their line as they continue their search for another forward.
The Toffees have tabled a £12million offer for Southampton striker Che Adams [Sky Sports], while as many as four separate bids have been knocked back for Leeds United youngster Willy Gnonto [Sky Sports].
Asked about Everton’s pursuit of someone to both partner and fill in for injury-prone Calvert-Lewin, Dyche confirmed he is eager to bring in another player in that department.
“It’s no surprise to anyone that we have been looking for options up front within the camp and outside the camp,” he told reporters, as quoted by Mirror Football [19 August, Pg 1]. “That’s standard of course; every Premier League club is looking for that.
“We know when Dom is fully fit what a player he can be. I think we had a couple of games last season when we looked at him and thought: ‘OK, this is where he can be.’
“Then on the back of that, we’ll look at where he goes from there on his performance levels. Certainly, a couple of years ago, before he had these on and off injuries, he was playing really well, so we want to get him back there.”
Another attacker needed
The dream scenario for Dyche would be to have Calvert-Lewin fit and available for every Premier League game this season.
However, the 26-year-old has made just 15 top-flight starts in each of the past two campaigns due to niggling injury issues.
The England international missed last weekend’s defeat to Fulham on the opening weekend of the 2023-24 campaign, but he is in contention to feature against Aston Villa on Sunday [20 August].
Even if Calvert-Lewin starts against Villa and has a stormer, Everton cannot afford to end their search for another forward. Unfortunately for them and ‘DCL’, he just simply cannot be relied upon to stay injury free.
Gnonto is still relatively unproven at Premier League level, but two goals and four assists in 24 outings for Leeds at that level last season – while still aged just 19 – suggests he has plenty of potential.
Adams is another who has not exactly been prolific in the top flight, but he can chip in with the occasional goal and act as a foil for the likes of Dwight McNeil, Arnaut Danjuma and new recruit Jack Harrison.
Bringing in Harrison from Leeds will go a long way to helping resolve Everton’s goalscoring issues, but another new signing is required up top between now and 11pm on 1 September.
In other Everton news, Southampton manager Russell Martin provided an update on the future of Adams amid rumours of a bid being made by Everton.