Everton will make signing a striker their “number one priority” in the final days of the winter transfer window, according to Michael Ball.
The former Toffee believes reinforcing the attack will take precedence at Goodison Park before the 3 February deadline.
Ball acknowledges that any potential number nine will be expensive and difficult to sign at the Toffees in the coming days.
The former defender wrote for The Liverpool Echo [27 January]: “Nine times out of 10 strikers are the most expensive players to try and bring in.
“We know that the January window is a difficult one at the best of times, but whatever recruitment we’ve been looking at, it now seems that a striker has got to be the number one priority.”
Everton need new striker transfer after injury crisis at Goodison Park
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti are all out injured, leaving David Moyes to rely on Beto as his solo striking option.
The England international went off with a knock as the Merseyside outfit beat Brighton 1-0 in the Premier League away from home on Saturday (25 January).
While the 27-year-old’s numbers haven’t been great this season, he finally seemed to be getting back to his best under the Scottish manager.
Everton have been one of the worst goalscorers in the English top flight in the current campaign, and Calvert-Lewin’s injury could not have come at a worse time.
The Toffees have managed to open up a significant gap between themselves and the relegation zone in recent weeks, but there’s still a long way to go.
