The wheels are already very much in motion at Everton as the club looks toward the January transfer window.
The i reported earlier this week that an attacking midfielder is a big priority for the Blues and their manager Frank Lampard and director of football Kevin Thelwell in the January transfer window.
The duo started the revamp of the Everton squad in the summer and the majority of the eight signings they made have blended into the first team seamlessly. But, while the vulnerabilities of a leaky defence and immobile midfield have been addressed, there are still problems further forward. Everton have netted five goals in seven Premier League games so far this season - more than only West Ham United and Wolves - and are yet to score more than once in a single match.
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Anthony Gordon has added goals to his game while Neal Maupay - one of the new boys - will have been relieved to get off the mark early on with his superb strike last weekend earning the Blues a 1-0 home win over West Ham and their first three points of the Premier League season. But more creativity is needed across the attacking unit and the club's attempts to sign Mohamed Kudus and Mykhaylo Mudryk toward the end of the summer window suggests Lampard and Thelwell know that already.
So with Everton looking likely to sign a marquee creator in January, here are four potential options.
Mohamed Kudus
There is a reason the Blues tried to snap up the Ajax star ahead of the crowd this summer and they will face a tough battle to lure the Ghanian international to Goodison Park in January - but it doesn’t mean they should give up.
Kudus is the option that most fits the bill: a creative forward who can operate in attacking midfield or leading the line - as he has been doing at Ajax so far this season. Since Everton's failed £15m bid, the 22-year-old has scored six goals across all competitions at a rate of 1.35 per 90 minutes - third across Europe’s major leagues behind only Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski.
How realistic the Blues' chances of landing Kudus are come January remain to be seen, but his recent admission they offered him ‘a great opportunity’ justifies leaving the door ajar.
Mykhaylo Mudryk
Similar to Kudus, the more pessimistic of those on Merseyside may believe the club has missed the boat with Mudryk. The Shakhtar Donetsk winger has enjoyed an outstanding start to the new season, particularly in the Champions League, where he has two goals and two assists in two games.
Shakhtar sporting director Darijo Srna confirmed earlier this month that Everton had a €30m bid rejected during the summer, and unfortunately for Lampard’s side, that number is only going to rise with top performances on the European stage.
Whether the Ukrainian outfit would be willing to negotiate in January may rely on their progression in Europe, with Mudryk more likely to stay if it means competing in the knockout stages - even so, with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool now reportedly joining the race, it could be another tough sell.
Daichi Kamada
Should Everton fail in their bids to land either Kudus or Mudryk, they can find equally capable quality in Eintracht Frankfurt attacking midfielder Daichi Kamada - and for a fraction of the price.
The Japan international has enjoyed a consistent five-season spell in Germany, with 30 goals and 30 assists in 142 games across all competitions, but has taken it to another level in the early stages of this season - racking up four goals and three assists in six Bundesliga games.
An attacking midfielder, who can play either centrally behind a striker or as one of two narrow wingers, he would fit into Lampard’s systems easily. Moreover, with the 26-year-old’s contract running out next summer, Frankfurt may be inclined to cash in while they can - which could present a cut-price deal for top-level quality.
Ilias Chair
Some brilliant additions across the Premier League over recent years have shown that Championship talent can be worth bringing up a league - think Michael Olise, Ollie Watkins and Eberechi Eze.
And if the Blues want to dip into the second-tier for their creative spark, then Queens Park Rangers star Ilias Chair could be an intriguing prospect. During his three full seasons in West London, the Moroccan international has always totalled over 10 goal contributions (goals + assists), but a flying start to the new campaign has seen him bag three goals and five assists in just 10 games.
The 22-year-old can operate as a classic No.10, but has also played wide in a 4-3-3 under Michael Beale - either way, it is him shouldering the brunt of the creative burden at Loftus Road. Stepping up to top-flight football will always be a tough task, especially mid-season, but Chair has arguably been ready to do so for some time now and a move to Goodison presents realistic progress.
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