Everton's January transfer plans have been thrown into a state of uncertainty after the club was put up for sale. The Friedkin Group has announced it will listen to offers, with a reported asking price of around £800million mooted.
That puts the Toffees in a difficult position ahead of the winter transfer window, with David Moyes already making do with a threadbare squad. The team is short of options up front in attack, while both full-back positions are in desperate need of new additions.
Sale or not, affordable options exist
Sale or not, there are affordable options possible up for grabs in each of those positions this winter. The ECHO takes a deeper dive into which signings could be brought in, potentially under new ownership if Everton change hands over the next few months.
Folarin finally signs
Folarin Balogun's failed deadline-day move to Goodison was the main storyline coming out of the summer transfer window. A bungled deal that collapsed at the 11th hour, Everton paid the price for leaving this particular piece of business so late with no apparent back-up option.
Reports indicated it was the United States striker who ultimately turned down the move. This was after Everton supposedly renegotiated to pay less than the £38.5million that was initially agreed with Monaco after discovering a slight concern with his knee.
Monaco chief executive, Thiago Scuro, claimed afterwards it was Balogun's choice to cancel the move because of how he was treated at Finch Farm. However, there may still be room to revive a move that came so close to materialising if Balogun is still interested.
After being named Player of the Season on the French Riviera last term, Balogun has barely featured this season due to injury. He played just 14 minutes for Monaco prior to the international break but is expected to return for the club this weekend.
Everton look light in attack following the summer departures of Beto, Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil, with Thierno Barry left as the only striker still standing. Another addition up front has to be prioritised, with Balogun's record of 31 goals and 13 assists in 92 games for Monaco enough to inspire confidence he could bring very welcome competition.
Johnston joins from Celtic
Another name who was linked with the Toffees in the summer, Alistair Johnston, also ended up staying put with his current club. Again, however, that's not to say the Celtic right-back is suddenly out of reach.
Granted, the Hoops may be less inclined to sell in January when it's more difficult to get a replacement through the doors. In fact, the only reason the 28-year-old's prospective move to Goodison fell apart was because he suffered an injury.
Assuming he's back on track after the international break, Johnston's services would be well worth exploring again. The Canada international enjoyed a positive World Cup 2026 campaign and has been among Celtic's most consistent performers in recent years.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has taken over as Moyes' right-back of choice, with Jake O'Brien also able to play that position if needed. However, many would argue O'Brien's time is best spent in central defence, increasing the need to make the right flank an area of importance.
Zinchenko's Prem comeback
The most cost-effective option on the table for Everton, Oleksandr Zinchenko, would come without the burden of a transfer fee. The Ukrainian has been a free agent since leaving Ajax at the end of last season when a knee injury curtailed his progress.
Zinchenko, who turns 30 in December, was briefly on loan with Nottingham Forest prior to that. And there may be more that the four-time Premier League winner has to offer in England's top flight.
The former Manchester City and Arsenal utility comes with the added benefit of offering cover in midfield. He'd also have a familiar face in compatriot Vitaliy Mykolenko, with whom he'd be competing for the starting left-back berth.
There's no friendlier competition than that, with a move that would suit all parties. Much would depend on Zinchenko's current condition after months without a club and coming back from injury, though Moyes may yet squeeze the last drops of Premier League quality out of Zinchenko's career.
