Everton ‘scrape the barrel’ as last-gasp Leicester transfer news emerges
Everton would be scraping the barrel late on in the transfer window if they pursued a deal for Patson Daka.
The Zambian striker is on the Toffees’ radar (iNews, 30 January) as David Moyes, Kevin Thelwell and The Friedkin Group tirelessly attempt to bring in a striker before Monday’s deadline (3 February).
Daka spent the beginning of this season on the sidelines nursing an ankle injury and has only been a bit-part player since with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester, who come to Goodison Park on Saturday (1 February).
The striker has a chance to even make an impact against Moyes and the Toffees before a potential move, having been introduced as a substitute in each of the Foxes’ last six games.
Everton need a striker, but would Daka improve the side?
Everton are, granted, in a situation in which one striker injury would see Moyes contending with having to put square pegs in round holes to plug the absence of a proper number nine.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is being assessed for an injury prognosis while Beto is strongly linked with a move to Italy. Youssef Chermiti remains out, as does Armando Broja. In this case, Daka would be advisable.
However, should Leicester beat Everton on Saturday, the Toffees are dragged back into a survival battle with the Foxes and if they still decide to lend or sell them Daka, it would tell all you needed to know about how much van Nistelrooy rates him.
In the right team with consistent fitness and playing time, the 26-year-old could be a good asset to many sides. But to expect Daka to sign, knowing he would never have been close to the first-choice striker arrival at Goodison, and then expect him to score a hatful of goals is merely wishful thinking.
Having returned to fitness in November, the former RB Salzburg frontman has scored once this season, against West Ham United on 3 December, along with one assist in the FA Cup against QPR.
Should Everton sign a striker like Daka and no other player in his position before Monday, many Toffees fans would unfortunately be underwhelmed.
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