Frank Lampard has revealed Everton have a budget to spend this month and refused to be drawn on speculation linking the club with a move for Danny Ings.
The Everton boss has been vocal about his side’s need for reinforcements ever since the Premier League paused for the World Cup. The Blues are in desperate need of attacking options as they aim to move out of the relegation zone.
The ECHO reported on Friday that work is ongoing behind-the-scenes, with Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga among what is said to be a detailed list of targets. However, no new faces have yet arrived at the club, with the exception of Ellis Simms, who has returned from a successful loan spell at Sunderland.
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“We have a budget to spend, but as I mentioned, we may look at loans as well,” the Everton boss revealed when asked about transfers on Thursday afternoon.
“We have to look at what we can bring in, a player to impact us now, because that is what we want and need.
“But also not to bring in players who become our players, that are not the right players for Everton and our squad. That is a process we have to go through to make sure we don't make those mistakes.
“That doesn't make it easy because it is not a big market at the minute, particularly at the top end of the pitch, that is hardest market to find people who will come and deliver for you. But we have to work out our best way to do that.”
One national newspaper claimed on Wednesday evening that Everton have seen a loan bid for Danny Ings rejected by Aston Villa. But when asked about the forward at his pre-Manchester United press conference, Lampard refused to speak on the speculation.
He said: “I am not talking about Danny Ings, but both options you mentioned there, loan, obligation or buying players, all things are on the table.
“I am never going to sit here and talk about finances because it is not my strength to give you the detail enough on that, but we want to improve the squad in January.
"We want to help the squad in January, but my job first and foremost has to be working with the players we have here, and how we get a result against Manchester United or Southampton.
“If we can improve the squad then great. But it is not an easy window, and everybody knows that, but we will try to improve it because everybody knows that for sure.”
The Everton boss then added: “I don’t know any other clubs' situation, but the context of it is probably a post-World Cup transfer window
“Maybe some agents and players, there are a lot of different things that come into play in this window, all the things you just mentioned there, it is a good point.
“People from the outside might look at it and say why aren’t you doing this but we have to look at the best solution and the most viable solution.
“And from my point of view, I want them solutions, it will help me become a better manager and it will help us have more competition and get results we haven’t been able to get.
“Those are the rules of football and the importance of recruitment. So there is no coming away from it being a huge deal for us.
“We have maybe seen in previous times we have made decisions like that that haven’t gone right, and they can also have a negative effect. We have to be balanced about it.”
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