Arouna Kone left Everton in the summer after his contract expired at Goodison Park.
Romelu Lukaku’s departure to Manchester United this summer has hit Everton harder than anyone could have imagined as they sit in 16th place in the Premier League with just three wins.
The Toffees desperately need a striker that can score on a regular basis; a focal point that Everton’s playmakers can combine with to strike fear into their opponents’ defences.
Oumar Niasse has certainly started the season well, but after a torrid time at Goodison Park before this season, he is hardly seen as the long-term replacement needed to replace Belgium international Lukaku.
Similarly, Ronald Koeman brought in Spaniard Sandro Ramirez but the 22-year-old is yet to score in the blue of Everton since his move from La Liga side Malaga in the summer.
It is quite clear that Everton’s next manager, whether that be interim boss David Unsworth or one of the many other names linked with the job, needs to spend big on a powerful number nine to fire Everton up the table.
But should the Toffees be ruing their decision to offload experienced forward Arouna Kone, while they wait to finally replace Lukaku?
The Ivory Coast international is showing just what Everton are missing in the top tier of Turkish football with mid-table side Sivasspor, after joining the club on a free transfer following the expiration of his Toffees contract in the summer.
An impressive goalscoring rate of seven goals in 11 games, as well as providing two assists, sees Kone sit in joint fourth in the Super Lig rankings behind Bafetembi Gomis, Vagner Love and Adis Jahovic.
It is that kind of clinical form in front of goal that Everton are crying out for. But the Merseyside club decided to offload 34-year-old Kone instead, after playing him out wide and in the number 10 role rather than his preferred centre-forward position during his four-year spell at Goodison Park.
Kone continues to show Everton that they were wrong to offload him, and the Toffees will certainly regret letting him leave for nothing.
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