Everton may be set to usher in a bright new era with Dan Friedkin’s proposed takeover, but that does not expel all of their troubles from the past.
In fact, they still remain very much indebted to a few key creditors, whilst propping up the Premier League table due to their dire start to the season.
Sean Dyche has a task on his hands solving the latter problem, especially when their profligacy continues to let him down so regularly.
What’s most frustrating about their inability to find the net often is the fact that they are creating the chances. They just have no one of real quality to put them away.
It’s therefore worth reminiscing about just how close the Toffees therefore came to answering those calls with one acquisition in 2023.
Everton nearly signed Viktor Gyokeres in 2023
Having just endured a campaign where Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s inability to find the net often plagued them, there were desperate calls for a new striker to be signed.
Whether it was to replace him completely or merely give him the impetus needed to get fully fit, it was widely accepted that some alternative was needed.
And whilst they eventually settled on Beto, it’s quite clear that he was far from their top target.
Instead, the saga including Viktor Gyokeres highlights where their priority lay.
Eventually opting for a move to Portugal, it was Sporting CP who pipped Everton, acquiring the Swedish finisher for just £20m.
This is a failed transfer that has not aged well for Everton.
Viktor Gyokeres is now outscoring Erling Haaland
Especially after what Fabrizio Romano has recently tweeted, simply writing: ‘Viktor Gyökeres has scored a brace tonight… making it 11 goals and 3 assists for Sporting this season. 14 goals, 5 assists for club and country. Gyökeres has provided at least one goal contribution in every game this season.’
It’s worth noting that the 26-year-old is actually outscoring Erling Haaland this season, such is his proficiency, with the Manchester City marksman currently on just ten goals.
Both of these finishers, who both actually nearly joined Everton once upon a time, now currently have more league goals this season (ten each) than Dyche’s side has managed thus far (five).
Last season, the former Coventry City man had already made Kevin Thelwell regret his inability to complete the deal anyway, as he finished the campaign having scored 43 and assisted 15 across all competitions.
He is now proving that this was no fluke.
The true testament to Gyokeres’ ceiling though comes from his release clause, which sits at a reported £85m.
It’s so painful to imagine how much better Everton could be with him in their side, or how much stronger their financial position might be had they since sold him for such a figure.
Haggling over a few million here and there last summer has cost them one of the best talents in Europe.
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