Everton: Where will the goals come from?
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Despite spending over £130m this summer, Everton failed to bring in the proven striker Ronald Koeman wanted.
The Toffees were after a ready-made replacement for Romelu Lukaku. The Belgium international scored 25 league goals last season and his move to Manchester United left a sizeable void in attack.
Lukaku’s former teammates could struggle to fill that gap. Ross Barkley was the club’s second-highest scorer with five league goals. After that Kevin Mirallas and Seamus Coleman both chipped in with four apiece.
Everton are targeting a top four spot and they’ll need plenty of goals for that. But who’s going to get them?
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney’s return to his boyhood club seemed like a sentimental move when it happened.
Manchester United and England’s record goalscorer looked well off the pace for much of last season. Even the basics seemed beyond him at times.
However, the 31-year-old has looked revitalised on the pitch this season, scoring in both of the first two league games.
His experience will be very useful to a young Everton team. He’ll struggle to match Lukaku’s goalscoring exploits at this stage of his career though.
Sandro Ramirez
Everton fended off interest from Atletico Madrid to sign Sandro Ramirez from Malaga for £5.4m.
The 22-year-old came through the ranks at Barcelona and scored 14 La Liga goals last year.
He could prove to be a real bargain but it will take him time to settle in English football.
It’s probably too early for Everton to be relying on him as their main source of goals.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Still only 20-years-old, Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks like a real talent.
The Sheffield-born forward broke into the first-team picture last season and was rewarded with a five-year contract.
It looks like he has a very bright future ahead of him but Everton need goals in the present.
Calvert-Lewin only has one goal in 14 top-flight appearances to date. He’s got plenty of energy and enthusiasm. He still needs to develop a cutting edge.
Midfield
Gylfi Sigurdsson scored nine league goals for a struggling Swansea City team last season. Davy Klaassen got 14 in the Eredivisie for Ajax.
Koeman will be looking to the two new signings to get amongst the goals at Everton now.
Ross Barkley is injured and came close to leaving on Transfer Deadline Day. It remains to be seen if he’ll have a role to play when he returns to fitness.
Kevin Mirallas may also have a limited role after a move to Olympiakos fell through.
Yannick Bolasie and Aaron Lennon have never been regular goalscorers either.
It looks like Everton may have to open the chequebook again in January.
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