Everton have struggled badly this season after failing to replace Romelu Lukaku in the summer.
Former Everton striker Tony Cottee has told Sky Sports that Chris Wood and Andre Gray should have been on the club’s radar in the summer after selling Romelu Lukaku.
The Toffees sold 25-goal Lukaku to Manchester United in July but did not sign a recognised striker to replace him and have been left with an unbalanced squad that is struggling to find the net.
Cottee, who scored 99 goals for the Merseysiders during the peak of his career, has criticised Everton’s business and feels that thet should have been in for either Wood or Gray.
“The transfer strategy I think was really poor from Everton’s point of view, particularly with the Lukaku money,” Cottee is quoted by Sky Sports as saying. “I’ve said it before, you get £75m and you lose your 25-goal-a-season goalscorer and you buy three no.10’s but you’re not buying a centre forward.
“What was wrong with Chris Woods? What was wrong with Andre Gray? Alright they aren’t guarenteed Premier League goalscorers but they are centre-forwards who can lead the line.
“Everton don’t have a focal point and that puts pressure on the rest of the team.”
Gray swapped Burnley for Watford in the summer but only has one goal in 12 appearances for the Hornets, while the Clarets signed Wood from Leeds United to fill their void up top.
Based on his start to the season, with three goals that have earned Burnley five points, the New Zealand international might have been worth Everton’s consideration even in the short term.
Oumar Niasse has been brought in from the wilderness to lead the Everton line, but is now banned for two matches following his dive to win a penalty in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.
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