Everton appear set to resist the free-agent market despite an alarming shortage in attack, with TeamTalk reporting that the club will instead wait until January to address the problem properly. It is a decision that leaves David Moyes walking a narrow line in the months ahead, particularly after a bruising end to the transfer window.
The central issue is straightforward. Everton moved Beto on to Fiorentina and failed to secure a replacement before the deadline shut. Their biggest push was for Folarin Balogun, with a £40m deal agreed with Monaco, only for the move to collapse late on. TeamTalk states the striker had a “last-minute change of heart” and “decided against signing a contract”, yet the situation appears to have been more complicated than that.
Monaco’s hierarchy insisted there was “no problem” with Balogun’s medical. However, the report says sources close to Everton believe there was “an issue serious enough to raise serious concerns”. Whatever the precise truth, the outcome is the same, Everton missed their main target and were left scrambling.
Balogun collapse leaves Everton exposed
In the aftermath, Everton turned to Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee with what was described as an “emergency offer”. That approach was “swiftly rejected”, underlining how little room for manoeuvre remained by that stage. Once that avenue closed, Everton were effectively boxed in.
The result is that Moyes now has “just one recognised striker to call upon – Thierno Barry”. For a Premier League season, that is a high-risk position for any club to accept. Injuries, suspension, dips in form and fixture congestion can all turn a shortage into a full-blown crisis very quickly.
There are free agents available, including Anthony Martial, who is said to be open to returning to the Premier League. Yet the current plan is clear, Everton “are not currently planning to sign any free agents, and will rely on the striker option(s) they have…
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