Everton have some money to spend and a need for new signings on the final day of a transfer window that is crucial to the club's Premier League survival.
New manager Sean Dyche may only have been confirmed in his role on Monday but he met with director of football Kevin Thelwell at Finch Farm on Saturday and work to strengthen has been ongoing since. Dyche took his first training session on Monday afternoon as he started preparations for the home match with Arsenal at the weekend.
He will hope that by then he can welcome some new faces to a squad that was struggling for firepower even before the weekend sale of Anthony Gordon, the club's joint top goalscorer in the league. Gordon's move to Newcastle United in a deal that could reach £45m does, however, mean that Everton have some funds to play with.
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Everton entered the transfer window with club chiefs acknowledging the squad needed two forward signings as a priority. While it was stressed the club would have to operate with caution, Frank Lampard repeatedly insisted it was his belief that there was money to secure permanent deals, even if loan moves were preferred. Fast forward 30 days and Everton now enter the final day of the month weaker than how they started it.
A wretched run of form has left the side languishing in the bottom three and accounted for Lampard's job last week. The sale of Gordon, though for a substantial fee and in acrimonious circumstances after he missed training and then handed in a formal transfer request, means a squad already short of goals is a further attacker down. And the clubs around Everton have spent millions strengthening their squads in the hope they can survive at the Blues' expense. Everton, meanwhile, are yet to bring a player in.
The club has been unfortunate - a bold move to tempt Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma on loan failed when the player made an 11th hour switch to Tottenham Hotspur. Flux, uncertainty and injuries elsewhere have removed potential targets from Everton's grasp too. Yet there is an understanding business needs to be done and the final hours of the window exploited as much as possible. With that in mind, expect the club to be at the forefront of the transfer window rumour mill on Tuesday with the footballing world well aware Everton need reinforcements and clubs, agents and middle men seeking to take advantage.
Against that backdrop, Thelwell - who displayed his transfer acumen with the savvy move that brought Conor Coady to Merseyside - must stay true to his vision as he navigates the final hours of the market. Among those still of interest is Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana, who has been on the club's radar throughout the transfer window. The 20-year-old is still within the club's thoughts heading into the final day. Anthony Elanga, the Manchester United winger who was the subject of enquiries from Everton at the start of the window, remains at Old Trafford. He may not be available after recent comments by his manager, Erik ten Hag, though.
Ten Hag told reporters there were players who would be available for loan, should the right opportunity come up. When asked specifically about Facundo Pellistri, however, he said the player's appearance in the Carabao Cup win at Nottingham Forest days earlier highlighted he was needed by the first team. Elanga also played in that game, creating his side's third goal. If the same logic for Pellistri is applied to Elanga's position it would seem Ten Hag is reluctant to let him go - particularly with Elanga having been involved in most matchday squads this season.
Everton were linked with a rumoured bid to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea on a permanent deal on Wednesday but club sources played down those claims. Everton have held an interest in the midfielder and Lampard was a major fan. Gallagher idolised Lampard yet was still not tempted to L4 when he was manager so his hero's departure, along with the club's struggles, made a move unlikely even if Everton were to have made a genuine bid.
Coventry striker Viktor Gyökeres and Newcastle United winger Ryan Fraser would both be realistic targets should Thelwell and Dyche consider them as suitable additions, though Everton have not yet moved for either despite their likely availability. With deadline day the final opportunity to be proactive ahead of the second half of the campaign, and with a new influence at Finch Farm in Dyche and the Gordon cash opening up new avenues, Everton fans could be set for a tumultuous day of rumoured bids and potential deals. One thing that has not changed during this rollercoaster of a month is the need to do business though. And what is certain is that the club can not afford to end this transfer window weaker than it began it.
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