Everton's transfer window has been put on hold amid the ongoing drama with the search for the next manager becoming the priority for the club, however, with the latest injury update coming out of Finch Farm, signing a player could become an urgent priority for Farhad Moshiri and Duncan Ferguson.

What's the word?

Everton released a statement last night about Abdoulaye Doucoure sustaining an injury during the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa over the weekend.

The statement reads:

'Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure sustained a groin injury in Saturday's Premier League meeting with Aston Villa and will begin treatment under the care of the Club's medical staff at USM Finch Farm.'

There has been no update on how long the midfielder will be out for, which leaves the question as to whether he will be available or not for Everton's important FA Cup fourth-round tie on the 5th February against Brentford.

Time to sign Dele Alli

Everton have been linked to signing Tottenham Hotspur outcast, Dele Alli, and his lack of presence at the clash with Chelsea on Sunday evening seemingly only further suggests that the player is not in the future plans of Antonio Conte, which means a swoop for the £100k-per-week star could be an option for the Toffees.

With Doucoure injured and no clarity on his return as of yet, Moshiri should be seizing the opportunity to sign the 25-year-old who was once hailed a "machine" by Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand.

Alli has made 269 appearances for Spurs, scoring 67 goals and bagging 61 assists, with a goal involvement every 149 minutes he has played for the London club, a consistent output that Everton are desperate for right now, with the side scoring 11 fewer goals than they have conceded this term.

Even without the injury problems that Everton have faced this season, adding a player who can be a fresh attacking threat for the side could be exactly what they need to turn their season around and start picking up results to climb the table to escape a relegation battle in the final months of the season.

Moshiri is interviewing another manager today with Vitor Pereira reportedly flying into Merseyside to discuss the potential of becoming the new Everton manager, so with that priority soon to be resolved, the board must remain conscious that there is only a week left to go to sign players in the January transfer window to see out the rest of the Premier League season.

Either way, if Ferguson remains in charge for the foreseeable future, the Toffees hierarchy will need to hand him a better squad and in Dele, the interim boss could find his perfect man.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano reveals new update in manager search