Everton face a race against time to strengthen before the end of the transfer window.
The club is yet to make a signing this month despite approaching January with then manager Frank Lampard acknowledging the priority was to secure two attacking players. With just hours to go until the 11pm deadline the most significant piece of business involving the club has instead been the sale of Anthony Gordon to Newcastle United.
The ECHO understands work is still ongoing in a bid to prevent Everton finishing the month weaker than how they started it. But just hours remain for deals to be concluded.
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Attacking players were the key focus heading into January and the Blues have been linked with a host of names today. They were interested in Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana but Southampton are now closing in on a deal for the 20-year-old.
The Saints are also reported to have lined up Genk striker Paul Onuachu, who had been linked to the Blues earlier in the day. The ECHO understands Everton are not pursuing Coventry striker Viktor Gyokeres, Thorgan Hazard of Borussia Dortmund or Union Berlin winger Sheraldo Becker. Claims the club had bid for Conor Gallagher that emerged yesterday were also inaccurate.
Despite the lack of a breakthrough so far, efforts to strengthen new manager Sean Dyche's squad are said to be continuing. He took training for the first time at Finch Farm on Monday and is overseeing preparations for the clash with Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday.
Just hours are now left to bring in new faces to compete for a place within that matchday squad after a month in which every club around Everton, currently second from bottom in the table, has strengthened.
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