Everton's next £25m January transfer is an absolute disaster waiting to happen amid 'informal enquiry' claim
Everton are reportedly targeting a January signing from a Premier League rival - but is it the right move?
Everton have seen their squad knocked down to its bare bones due to injuries in recent weeks, and David Moyes’ side may view the final days of the January transfer window as critical in their aim to secure a top-half place this season.
The last time the Toffees finished in the top 10 of the Premier League was back in 2020/21 under Carlo Ancelotti, while Moyes led the Merseyside giants to top-eight finishes in his final seven seasons of his first spell at the club and will hope for similar success this term.
Thierno Barry has begun to find his feet in recent weeks but additional attacking options still remain a priority for Everton in the transfer market, with their only other senior striker Beto linked to clubs in Italy. One potential transfer target has emerged and while it might make sense on paper, the Toffees find it smarter to use their funds elsewhere...
Everton links with Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor emerge
According to reports by the Mirror on Tuesday, Everton are linked with a £25m move for Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor this month following an ‘informal enquiry’ for the French striker.
The 25-year-old began the season strongly, scoring on his Premier League debut against West Ham United and reaching four league goals for the season fairly early on. But the former AS Monaco frontman has not scored since October and has only started one of Sunderland’s last nine matches, missing two of those through injury, as the Black Cats have continued their strong start to life back in the top flight with Brian Brobbey often starting ahead of Isidor through the centre.
Reporting continues that no formal contact between the two clubs has taken place but Moyes is believed to be a ‘fan’ of Isidor, with a check made on the availability of the striker after reports of a failed pursuit of Morocco frontman Youssef En-Nesyri.
Isidor has made a solid start to life in the Premier League all things considered and saw himself linked with the likes of Aston Villa in the autumn, but the Toffees would be well advised to steer well clear or else their poor track record in terms of strikers may continue.
Isidor move would be a massive risk for Toffees
Everton strikers have tended to struggle in recent years and a £25m move for Isidor would be another punt on a player who is, ultimately, fairly unproven as being a prolific goalscorer at any level.
His fast start to this season told a false truth of a player who netted just 13 Championship goals in 46 appearances in the Black Cats’ promotion campaign last season, nine of which came while on loan at the club in the first half of the season. He has only reached double figures in league goals one other time in his career, coming in the French third tier for Bastia-Borgo back in 2020/21. Furthermore, last season was the first time the 25-year-old reached 30 appearances in a season amidst fitness and form issues during his previous spells in France and Russia.
The cherry on the top of this risky transfer is the fact that in a high-pressure televised game against promotion rivals Burnley last season, Isidor missed two penalties in the final 10 minutes of the game as James Trafford embarrassed the striker in a goalless draw. Such lack of nerve does not stand Isidor in good stead to shine in the Premier League for a club the size of Everton, where the pressure is constant.
It is an encouraging sign for Everton that attacking reinforcements are being targeted this January but £25m would be far better spent elsewhere than on a risky mid-season move for Isidor.