Everton have cruised through the summer transfer window in unspectacular fashion.
The Toffees have signed four new players but have only spent £1.7m. Rafa Benitez may have expected to be given more license to spend but it hasn’t had an adverse impact on the squad.
What’s the word?
Although Everton haven’t thrown their chequebook around this summer, they have still secured seven points from three matches in a promising start to the season.
What bodes well is that they’re also trying to improve the squad before the deadline passes in just over 24 hours' time. Luis Diaz could arrive from Porto, while former Newcastle striker Salomon Rondon is also a target.
However, the player Everton should sign instead is Odsonne Edouard. The Sunday Mail (29/08 – via Sky Sports) suggests that the Merseyside outfit are battling Tottenham, Brighton and Crystal Palace for his signature.
Edouard has been a highly sought-after player for a while now but his wage demands had priced the Frenchman out of a move before deadline day. It’s thought that he may cost in the region of £20m.
Wonderful signing
If Benitez secures Edouard over Rondon on transfer deadline day, it would ensure that Everton end the transfer window with an almighty bang.
The striker has downed tools with Celtic over the last few months and nothing typified that more than a horrendous miss from just yards out in Sunday’s Old Firm derby against Rangers.
However, the 23-year-old is more than that. He is usually a wonderfully composed finisher from inside the area. He is a tall and powerful forward but possesses an incredible first touch which he uses to his advantage to subsequently outmuscle defenders.
However, most vital to his play is the goalscoring antics he has created in Glasgow. Edouard found the net on 22 occasions in 41 outings last season, a tally which beat Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goals for the campaign by one.
On top of that, he has beaten the goalkeeper 86 times in 179 appearances for the Hoops. Therefore, he’d surely bring a heap of goals with him to Merseyside.
With Richarlison potentially heading for the exit door, Everton will definitely need another prolific attacker in their ranks, and Edouard fits the bill perfectly.
Speaking about the Celtic star last year, Frank McGarvey waxed lyrical about his qualities, saying: “He has that bit of magic in his feet.”
Scotland defender Declan Gallagher added: “His one-touch play, his link-up, he’s two-footed – he has got absolutely everything, all the attributes. It’s hard to stop him. When Edouard is on that kind of form he is unplayable.”
With that in mind, Benitez must attempt to wrap up a deal. It could be the difference between a mere top half placing or a European finish.