Everton struggles up top are there for all to see, but one former player has admitted he was fuming after one striker was signed during his spell at the club.
Heading into the final months of the year, David Moyes will have an eye on the January window and the opportunity to bolster his striker options.
Everton News understands that Everton will look to sign a new striker following a poor start from Beto and Thierno Barry.
Everton have had some quality strikers lead the line, which only highlights the struggles over recent years.
Arsenal forward Viktor Gyokeres has hailed former Everton striker Samuel Eto’o as one of his favourite forwards.
However, there was one former Everton striker who admitted he was left furious when Everton signed the Cameroonian.
Former Everton striker left fuming at Samuel Eto’o signing
Gyokeres is not the only current player to hail the former Everton forward, with Hugo Ekitike also waxing lyrical about Eto’o.
His time at Everton was not exactly a huge success, but the former Barcelona man did bring an awful lot of experience to Goodison Park.
Speaking to the club’s media department, academy graduate Chris Long has admitted he was far from pleased to see Roberto Martinez sign Eto’o after his release from Chelsea.
“I was fuming when we signed Samuel Eto’o. We had Jelavic, and Lukaku was on fire. Arouna Kone was there too, but I knew I was better than him!” he said.
“Everyone thinks it’s sunshine and rainbows but it’s actually not. I’ve had more lows than highs and I wish I’d had more highs than lows but it’s the best job in the world and I love it.
“I thought I’d be Everton’s number nine for years and be the main man but football isn’t like that. And life isn’t like that. But at least I can tell my son I played for Everton.”
Long gone are the days when the Blues had such fierce competition for places up front.
Moyes is far from impressed with Beto, whilst there is a clear belief that Barry has been signed as a long-term project.
If Everton are to sign a new striker in January, the likes of Beto will not be able to vent their frustrations given his current form.
Chris Long knew he was better than Arouna Kone
Long’s Everton career never lifted off the ground having only played 10 minutes for the senior side.
However, the Huyton-born striker was confident he had the ability to outperform the £6m signing, Arouna Kone.
| Arouna Kone @ Everton | Total |
| Appearances | 62 |
| Minutes | 2874 |
| Goals | 10 |
| Assists | 3 |
Clearly, it did not work out for Long, who departed Finch Farm in 2015 where he joined Burnley before eventually ending up at Brisbane Roar earlier this year.
It has been a long and winding path for the 30-year-old, who was clearly under the impression that he could leave a legacy at Everton as a top striker.
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