According to reports in The Sunday Mirror, Everton boss Sam Allardyce is considering signing Watford striker Troy Deeney during the January transfer window.

What's the word, then?

Well, The Sunday Mirror says that Allardyce is ready to take advantage of the bumper budget he is set to be handed by majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri in the New Year, and he is willing to pay up to £40m on a new centre-forward to finally replace Romelu Lukaku.

The Sunday Mirror says that Deeney, who was a target for the Merseyside outfit a year ago and in the summer, is the former England manager's top target.

How has Deeney done this season?

Despite being the club captain, the striker has found first-team minutes hard to come by this term and he has made 11 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals and providing one assist.

The 29-year-old only played 33 minutes of Premier League football in his first four top flight appearances this season, but he has been more of a regular since making a big impact from the substitutes' bench in the win against Arsenal in October.

Deeney played for 88 minutes as Watford picked up a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Would he be a good signing for Everton?

While the Toffees clearly need an experienced centre-forward to finally succeed Lukaku and take some of the pressure off of Dominic Calvert-Lewin's shoulders, it is difficult to see how Deeney would be the answer in the long-term.

The striker turns 30 next June and the fact that he hasn't been a regular at Vicarage Road this term does suggest he shouldn't be the next big-money addition for the Merseyside outfit, even if he is a good character.

If they are looking for a short-term option however, then he would be a good buy as the club look unlikely to secure European football this term via the Premier League, with their only remaining chance likely to come through winning the FA Cup.

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