Everton move one step closer to first winter signing as striker decides on move
It may have taken 30 days, but Everton could be set to move closer to their first arrival.
Based on depth, or in this instance, a lack of it, Everton arguably have one of the most improvable squads in the Premier League.
And yet they are one of the very few Premier League clubs yet to do any transfer business in the winter window, at least from an incoming perspective.
Harrison Armstrong’s loan ending at Preston is the closest they have come to an arrival.
However, after the latest news at Fenerbahce, the Toffees could be set to step up their interest in signing a striker ahead of the deadline on 2 February.
Fenerbahce look set to welcome Sikiki Cherif
If Everton were to make just one signing this window, it would have to be a striker.
Thierno Barry is certainly in form right now, but the lack of options aside from him is blindingly obvious to everyone, seemingly apart from The Friedkin Group.
Everton have been linked with Jhon Duran and Youssef En-Nesyri, both of whom are currently at Fenerbahce, who are closing in on the signing of Sidiki Cherif.
The Angers striker has agreed to move to Turkey amid interest from Crystal Palace, and it could open the door for one of their other strikers to move on.
Duran is on loan at Fenerbahce from Al Nassr, meaning the Toffees would still have to negotiate his arrival with the Saudi club, whereas a deal for En-Nesyri would require direct contact between the two clubs.
Which striker would suit Everton better?
En-Nesyri has been heavily linked with Everton, and at one point, it looked as though a deal was set to be ratified.
However, that move seemed to collapse, and it may actually be to benefit Everton.
As demonstrated via his Sofascore graphic below, En-Nesyri would offer nothing that the Toffees don’t already have.
However, with Duran, it’s a very different matter.
The former Villa star would add plenty of pace to Everton’s forward line, and perhaps more importantly than anything, goals.
Duran scored 12 goals in 29 appearances for Aston Villa before joining Al Nassr halfway through the 2024-25 campaign.
The Colombian would almost certainly become the Toffees’ best striker, but as things stand, that is still the most unlikely deal out of the two.
Stay up to date this winter with our Everton transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Hill Dickinson, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.