Everton are desperately scrambling to put the cogs in place to mount a charge up the Premier League table across the second half of the 22/23 campaign, with the club currently languishing in 17th place, just one point above the drop-zone.

Indeed, Frank Lampard's Toffees are in a dire situation, with three successive losses in the English top-flight - the latest of which was a 2-1 home defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers, who were bottom of the table prior to their victory at Goodison Park.

According to The Sun, the Toffees have a vested interest in Chicago Fire's Columbian starlet Jhon Duran - who is reported to be valued at around £10m - and may swoop for the ace with swift conviction.

There may still be light at the end of the tunnel, and one signing that could rectify the wrongs comes in the form of Duran, with journalist Simon Phillips detailing his thoughts on a move to GIVEMESPORT.

He said: "There’s a few names they’ve been looking at. The only one that really stands out and I have had solid information on lately is Jhon Duran.

“Everton are there and are one of the clubs that are looking at him. But there are other names and Lampard is pushing hard now to bring a new striker in during January.”

Lukaku 2.0

After finishing 16th last year, staving off an unthinkable relegation due to an impressive burst of form in the closing weeks, the Everton faithful's optimism was turned up a notch following a promising summer transfer window that saw the club spend approximately £69.7m on summer signings.

They have not had the desired effect, and while the defence has been bolstered, the offensive vigour and fluidity across the pitch is steeply lacking.

The 19-year-old Duran, who has eight goals and five assists from terminated with the Toffees earlier this month.

A far more vibrant replacement possessing bundles of pace and imposing physicality could go a long way towards turning Everton's fortunes around, and it bears semblance to a former juggernaut at the club's disposal.

Romelu Lukaku signed for the Merseyside-based club from Chelsea in 2014 for a then-club-record fee of £28m, and the striker went on to wreak havoc upon the Premier League and Europe with his club, scoring 87 goals across 166 appearances.

In his most prolific season, he netted 25 goals and six assists from 37 league appearances with the Toffees, and Duran - hailed as a wonderkid” by Tom Bogert - could go a long way in emulating the powerhouse.

Whether Everton succeed in their pursuit will remain to be seen, but with the front of the ship failing to steady the turbulence, someone of his ilk is certainly needed, and quickly.