Everton have been enjoying a much more positive Premier League campaign so far compared to last season when they endured a difficult relegation battle, and Frank Lampard will be delighted with the progress his team have made.

The powers at Goodison Park made eight signings over the summer and thanks to the new additions the side has improved drastically in their defensive play throughout their performances so far.

Conor Coady and James Tarkowski have developed a flourishing centre-back partnership that has been the linchpin in the impressive defensive displays that have secured Everton vital points and clean sheets over their first 13 league outings.

The Toffees have kept as many shutouts this season as league leaders Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, which is incredibly impressive and a credit to the defensive upgrade both the new centre-back's have provided Everton. However, there is still room for improvement in the attacking third.

Last season's top goal-scorer Richarlison made a move to Spurs in the summer and Dominic Calvert-Lewin has only recently returned to fitness which has had a clear effect on the attacking threat that the side has displayed over the campaign so far, despite signing Neal Maupay and Dwight McNeil.

Only Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers have scored fewer goals than the Merseysiders, and Lampard will be looking for ways to improve this, something he could achieve by signing Ben Brereton Diaz in January.

Everton were reportedly desperate to sign the talented Blackburn Rovers forward on Deadline Day, but nothing materialised in the final hours and minutes of the window. As a result, the club must try their chance again in January after a struggle for goals.

The £20m-valued goal machine who was hailed "brilliant" by Hull City defender Jacob Greaves has scored 39 goals and delivered 13 assists over 146 appearances with a goal contribution every 175 minutes for Rovers and this season has shown no signs of slowing down.

Over 18 Championship appearances so far, Brereton Diaz - who rather remarkably is the "face of Pepsi" in Chile - has scored eight goals, registered one assist and created four big chances, as well as winning three duels and 3.1 shots on goal per game.

With that being said, it would be a great piece of business if Everton could secure the signing of Brereton Diaz in January. Given their ineptitude in front of goal, the Chile international could be the missing piece of the jigsaw in Everton's team.