Forget the Lynx Africa gift set, the stocking full of mini Toblerones, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s return to first-team duty is the Christmas present Everton supporters want most.
And it seems that their wish will be granted. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the Toffees talisman hopes to make his return to action after four months out when Rafa Benitez’s side travel to Burnley on Boxing Day.
In 14 games without Calvert-Lewin, Everton have plummeted down the Premier League table at a rate of knots.
They’ve averaged just one goal a game in the England international’s absence, too, with Solomon Rondon feeling like the Andy Bernard to Calvert-Lewin’s Michael Scott; a poor imitation of what came before.
Fortunately, the January transfer window is now just days away.
And while Calvert-Lewin’s long-awaited return will elicit an almighty sigh of relief on the blue side of Stanley Park, Everton’s alarming run of form during his four-month absence has lead to understandable demands for some added competition in attack.
90Min reported earlier this month that Everton were one of the clubs running the rule over Sardar Azmoun, with his contract at Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg expiring in just seven months’ time.
Could Everton finally sign Sardar Azmoun?
This is not the first time the Toffees have shown an interest in a man once labelled – somewhat ambitiously – the ‘Iranian Messi’.
“There was huge, just crazy interest in him. All the clubs called us,” admitted Azmoun’s former FC Rostov coach Kurban Berdyev.
“And these are the top clubs (who tried to sign him); Arsenal, Celtic and Everton. Their owner is an Iranian (Farhad Moshiri) who contacted me and tried to negotiate a transfer.”
When asked about the possibility of bringing their long-term transfer market to Goodison Park in the New Year, former director of football Marcel Brands issued a rather blunt response, pointing out that the Toffees are not exactly short of centre-forwards.
Such a claim doesn’t exactly stand up to much scrutiny, however.
Richarlison is more comfortable out wide, Rondon looks a shadow of his Newcastle United best and the seldom-seen Cenk Tosun is destined to depart sooner rather than later.
Brands’ rather questionable comments, then, appear to reflect the muddled thinking that has infected Everton during half-a-decade of consistent disappointment.
Snapping up Azmoun on a free transfer – or potentially for a cut-price fee in January – would feel like an oddly inspired decision from Everton’s recruitment team.
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