With Cenk Tosun and Oumar Niasse being surplus to requirements at Everton, a new striker could be brought in over the summer.
Carlo Ancelotti has Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Moise Kean at his disposal, but he’s looking for another prolific centre-forward to aid the Toffees’ push for a top-four finish in 2020/21.
Everton have been linked with Napoli’s Hirving Lozano and Torino’s Andrea Belotti among others, but which four out-of-contract strikers could the Blues sign to strengthen their attack for free?
Dries Mertens
Mertens joined Napoli from PSV Eindhoven in 2013 and has gone on to make 311 appearances in all competitions, scoring and creating 194 goals. The 32-year-old made 66 appearances under Ancelotti and may be open to renewing acquaintances with the Everton manager.
The Toffees could certainly benefit from his goals and creativity. As per WhoScored, Mertens has contributed 10 goals in 21 Serie A games, made 37 chances, whipped in 78 crosses with 27% accuracy, had 15 successful dribbles (48%) and had 60 shots with 23% accuracy.
Edinson Cavani
Cavani joined Paris Saint-Germain from Napoli in 2013 and has gone on to make 301 appearances in all competitions, scoring and creating 243 goals. The 33-year-old has struggled for form and playing time this season due to injury problems, scoring only four goals in 14 Ligue 1 games.
He’s open to leaving PSG after handing in a transfer request in December 2019, so Everton may stand a slim chance of getting the striker. Cavani’s €18.4m-a-year/€354k-per-week wage demands might be a stumbling block, however.
Artem Dzyuba
Dzyuba joined Zenit Saint Petersburg from Spartak Moscow in 2015 and has gone on to make 167 appearances in all competitions, scoring 67 and creating 48 goals. Everton tried and failed to sign the 31-year-old last year but could bring him to Goodison Park on a Bosman now.
There were rumours Dzyuba signed a new deal in December 2019 but there’s been no official confirmation from Zenit. Whether Everton would return for the striker remains to be seen, however.
Olivier Giroud
Giroud joined Chelsea from Arsenal in 2018 and has gone on to make 76 appearances in all competitions, scoring 21 and creating 13 goals. The 33-year-old has racked up only 442 minutes of Premier League football this season as Tammy Abraham is first-choice under Frank Lampard, so it’s hard to see him extending his stay at Stamford Bridge past 2020.
Should Everton return for Olivier Giroud?
Yes
No
Giroud was linked with Everton before he joined Chelsea, but it remains to be seen if they’ll return for him this summer. Inter Milan, Tottenham Hotspur and Lazio are among the clubs reportedly interested, but he’ll turn 34 in September and has wage demands of £5.72m-a-year.
The French international has scored only seven goals in 49 Premier League games since joining Chelsea, so is he really worth signing?