World Cup Group D strikers Everton should watch this summer, including Kramaric

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The World Cup is fast approaching, and Everton may look for new signings there.

Everton don’t have a great deal to play for in the final few weeks of the Premier League season, and the attention may turn to who the Toffees could target during this summer’s transfer window.

The futures of Sam Allardyce and Steve Walsh will have a huge impact on Everton’s transfer plans, and they could be watching this summer’s World Cup in Russia to eye up transfer targets..

Everton have snapped up World Cup stars in the past, signing Scotland’s John Collins in 1998, China’s Li Tie and Nigeria’s Joseph Yobo in 2002, and Bosnia’s Muhamed Besic in 2014.

Those signings had varying degrees of success, but Everton should still be looking for new additions during this summer’s major tournament.

Despite Cenk Tosun’s recent goals, Everton may still pursue another striker this summer – and here are three playing in Group D at this summer’s World Cup who should be watched by the Toffees.

Nikola Kalinic, AC Milan and Croatia

Kalinic, 30, is no stranger to English football having endured a difficult spell with Blackburn Rovers, but is currently in Italy with AC Milan. The striker has scored just four times this season, and his loan move from Fiorentina is unlikely to be made permanent. Kalinic was though prolific with Fiorentina, and Gianluca Di Marzio even reported last summer that Everton wanted to land him. Likely to be available again this summer, Everton should make checks on the Croatia hitman and analyse his situation again.

Andrej Kramaric, Hoffenheim and Croatia

Another Croatian forward likely to play at the World Cup is Hoffenheim’s Kramaric, who has hit nine goals in 27 games in the Bundesliga this season. The 26-year-old was actually signed by Everton recruitment chief Walsh at Leicester, but his miserable time there resulted in his move to Hoffenheim. Now a fairly regular goalscorer and in line to feature for Croatia, Walsh may be wise to take another look at Kramaric.

Odion Ighalo, Changchun Yatai and Nigeria

Formerly of Watford, Ighalo headed out to China in January 2017, and has notched 16 goals in 30 games for Changchun Yatai. Once prolific in the Premier League with 17 goals in the 2015-16 campaign, Ighalo fell away at Watford, but Tutto Udinese reported earlier this season that Everton were keeping tabs on Ighalo’s progress in China. The 28-year-old will feature for Nigeria this summer, and now has a chance to impress the Toffees again.