Everton have already completed the signing of striker Cenk Tosun from Besiktas this month.
Former Everton left-back Michael Ball has claimed in Liverpool Echo column that the Toffees still need to sign three players in the January transfer window.
Sam Allardyce’s side have already completed the £25million signing of Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun on a four-and-a-half-year deal, but have sold playmaker Ross Barkley to Chelsea for around £15million.
The Toffees are still short in defence and perhaps out wide in attack, and Ball reckons the club still need three more signings this month if they are to kick on in the second half of the season and challenge the Premier League’s top six.
Ball, who played for Everton for five years, claimed that at the top of Allardyce’s list must be a new left-back as Leighton Baines’ injury has left Cuco Martina playing out of position on the left – which Ball reckons is Everton’s weaklink.
“We’re over a week into the transfer window now and we’ve only got one new face in – I’d like to see at least three more,” Ball said. “I’d put my old position of left-back at the top of the list.
“I’ve been harping on about this for months, I knew it was a tough ask for Leighton Baines to play top level Sunday-Thursday, Sunday-Thursday at the age he is. We’ve overloaded him and he’s picked up an injury.
“Now we’re playing a right-sided guy left-back and it’s our weak link and where a lot of the opposition opportunities are coming from.”
Everton do have another left-back among their ranks, but Luke Garbutt was not registered by Ronald Koeman for either the Premier League or Europa League squads. Allardyce can change that this month, but is yet to do so.
The Toffees are back in action in the Premier League this weekend as they travel to north London to face Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday’s evening kick-off at Wemble Stadium.
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