Everton could now make a huge step towards safety with their first January transfer…
What’s the word?
That’s according to Football League World, who claim that Sean Dyche’s first action as manager of the Toffees will be to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Coventry City.
The Swedish marksman has excelled in the Championship for a number of years now and has understandably earned links to plenty of Premier League clubs.
However, with a history of plucking talent from the division below and nurturing them into instant successes, he could repeat this feat in a bid to ensure safety at Goodison Park.
The Sky Blues are holding out for an £18m fee for their star man.
Repeat Wood masterclass
Of all the transfer miracles pulled off by Dyche during his time at Turf Moor, arguably the most impressive was the signing of Chris Wood.
Should Everton sign Gyokeres?
Yes
No
Unloading a club record fee, the New Zealand international joined from Leeds United for a fee thought to be about £15m.
This was seen as an extraordinary expenditure for Burnley, yet at Everton would mark a drop in the water given their recent financial misadventures.
The 31-year-old would quickly become integral in their system, with his bravery and hulking frame making him a natural fit for the 4-4-2 employed.
He would enjoy four consecutive seasons of striking double figures before earning the club a £10m profit as he was sold to Newcastle United.
This kind of explosive impact could now be repeated through Gyokeres, who has continued his lethal form into yet another season.
With 12 goals in 27 games for Mark Robins’ struggling side, the 24-year-old seems poised to obliterate his 17-goal tally from the season prior.
His proficiency is a trait that has evaded most at Goodison Park this season, where only Wolverhampton Wanderers have scored less than them in the league.
As such, they are in dire need of a decisive asset to pull them through tight matches.
This is something which Gyokeres has already proven this season, as he was lauded by opposition manager Chris Wilder after downing his Middlesborough team.
He claimed: “I thought he was excellent today and I thought he was the difference.”
Desperate for someone to be that catalyst for pulling them from the relegation zone, Dyche should look no further than a league where he already has proven experience locating and utilising great untapped talent.