Premier League outfit Everton are already planning to add an attacking midfielder to Frank Lampard’s squad in the January transfer window with Ajax star Mohammed Kudus expected to come back into contention, according to i News.
It’s fair to say the Toffees’ recruitment department has come under plenty of scrutiny since Farhad Moshiri’s 2016 takeover. But it must be said that, looking back at the summer of 2022, Everton can certainly lay claim to have ‘won the window’; even if their first win of the new Premier League season did come at the seventh time of asking.
For a club who’s defence last season had all the resistance of wet tissue paper, bringing in James Tarkowski and Conor Coady without spending a single penny in transfer fees has the feeling of a masterstroke.
Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gana Gueye are upgrades, meanwhile, on Andre Gomes and Allan. Ditto Neal Maupay on Salomon Rondon. And, while Nathan Patterson arrived in January rather than June or July, the former Rangers starlet looks to have solved Everton’s long-standing right-back problem. Potentially, for years to come.
Could Everton still sign Mohammed Kudus from Ajax?
One area the club still hope to strengthen, however, is in attacking. According to reports, Everton want a creator to line-up alongside the industrious Onana and Gueye in a new-look midfield.
Kudus is the first name that comes to mind, of course. Even if his price-tag is likely to have risen since Everton failed with a £15 million bid last month (Independent). He’s scored seven goals in 10 games for Ajax this season. Two of those were stunning finishes against Liverpool and Rangers in the Champions League.
“Everton offered me a great opportunity,” Kudus explains. “And I wanted to try it.”
Adama Traore (no, not that one) and Anthony Elanga are two more names who have been linked with a move to Goodison Park of late. The Ferencvaros and Manchester United men are, however, wingers rather than attacking midfielders, even if they would both add a dash of creativity to a rather workmanlike unit.
Elanga may struggle for starts after United splashed out £82 million on Antony. He was left on the bench for the recent 3-1 triumph over Arsenal.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
