Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia has a lot to learn before making Everton move

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Jonathan Kodjia is reminscent of a young Lukaku – but will the Aston Villa talisman replace the big Belgian at Everton?

Everton have a tough choice to make in the January transfer window. Their 1-0 home defeat to Burnley on Saturday could not have made their need for a new centre-forward any clearer, especially after they failed to score in two of their three previous Premier League games before welcoming The Clarets to Goodison Park.

There appears to be no shortage of options on a so-called shortlist, however. The Sun claimed on Sunday that West Ham United’s injury-prone targetman Andy Carroll is one of Everton’s first-choice picks to fill Romelu Lukaku’s shoes but one name that keeps on returning is Jonathan Kodjia.

The Birmingham Mail claims that Everton sent scouts to watch him late last month.

An Ivory Coast international who cost Aston Villa £15 million last summer from Bristol City (Sky Sports), Kodjia silenced the doubters by plundering 19 goals in a prolific debut campaign for a side who hit the back of the net fewer times than relegated Blackburn Rovers.

And, after recovering from a broken ankle that kept him out of the opening weeks of the season, Kodjia netted his first of the new campaign with the winner against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.

Genius or tormentor?

In a way, Kodjia is similar to Lukaku during his first couple of years at Everton – moments of matchwinning genius flanked by overindulgence and an apparent distaste for team-play.

In fact, Kodjia can be summed up inside just 60 seconds of the weekend win over Bolton.

Immediately after wasting a glorious chance by attempting an over-ambitious shot when an unmarked team-mate was waiting for a tap in, the striker won a penalty.

Instead of letting designated spot-kick taker Albert Adomah fulfil his duties, however, the former Angers striker snatched the ball and duly stuck it away.

“If there was a minute that sums up Kodjia,” manager Steve Bruce quipped, as reported by the Birmingham Mail.

Kodjia certainly has a lot to learn. But will an Everton side crying out for consistency in attack take to a player with his tendency to induce hair-pulling frustration?