Southampton have had an opening bid rejected for rumoured Everton target Terem Moffi, according to reports in France.
According to Foot Mercato, Nathan Jones' side's £8million bid for the 23-year-old Lorient and Nigeria striker, who has ten goals for the Ligue 1 outfit this term, had been rejected.
The Blues, who are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements this month with Demarai Gray currently the club's top goalscorer, have been linked with a move for Moffi. West Ham United have also been touted as a potential destination for the Nigerian.
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Despite reportedly having a bid for the forward rejected, Jones has already bolstered his attacking ranks this month with the addition of Croatia international Mislav Orsic.
Meanwhile, Lampard has been forced to turn to the Blues academy in recent weeks with Ellis Simms being recalled from a loan spell at Sunderland, while under-21s striker Tom Cannon recently made his Goodison Park debut.
After a humiliating defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion last time out in the Premier League, Lampard's side find themselves in the bottom three and face a successive season fighting to retain their top-flight status.
After selling Richarlison to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth over £50m in the summer, the Blues have failed to replace their former star's output in the final third and, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin having missed much of the season so far, that burden has fallen on the shoulders of new signing Dwight McNeil, youngster Anthony Gordon and Gray.
Additionally, with Alex Iwobi facing a spell on the sidelines after being stretchered off during Friday's FA Cup defeat to Manchester United, Everton face season-defining clashes with Southampton and West Ham in the upcoming weeks.
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