Moyes is pushing for Everton’s dream £10m signing CF

Everton were defeated at Goodison Park on Wednesday night, David Moyes‘ return marred by poor finish and lack of control.

Aston Villa clinched a 1-0 win with a goal from Ollie Watkins, condemning Everton to a third consecutive result Premier League defeat. The Blues have also lost five of their past six top-flight matches.

Moyes will of course know that he has a huge task ahead of him; will be under no illusions about Everton’s problems and the importance of addressing the attacking problems that have dulled the Merseysiders’ edge.

But lack of confidence and genuine creative quality are obvious problems. It is understood that new owners, The Friedkin Group, must approve the signing of the first team before the end of January.

More Everton woes ahead

Away from the problems on the pitch, Everton’s depth has been cruelly dented by Armand Broja’s prognosis after the on-loan Chelsea striker injured his ankle in the FA Cup tie against Peterborough, which resulted in the expected three-month layoff.

This increases the need for a new striker, especially since Dominic Calvert-Lewin he still produces such poor results as Everton’s main centre-forward.

If the game against Villa served as an audition, Calvert-Lewin failed. It is now 16 Premier League games in a run without a goal or assist for a team struggling against the pull of the relegation zone.

Moyes’ save ability will focus on his side’s aggression and desire, creating three big chances to Villa’s four, according to Sofascore.

Calvert-Lewin wasted two of those chances. The contract expires at the end of the seasonhe must be replaced.

Everton are looking for a replacement for Calvert-Lewin

According to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, Everton are in the race for the Leicester City striker Tom Cannonwhich he earned at Finch Farm Academy before leaving in September 2023.

With a reported price tag of £10m, Everton would have to swallow some pride to bring Cannon back into the fold, but it’s actually an affordable figure for a rising star midway through the season.

The Foxes recently recalled Cannon from his successful loan spell at Stoke City in the Championship as they look to capitalize on his ever-improving performances. With most of the competition coming from the second division, Everton may feel they can triumph in the reunion.

Why Everton should sign Tom Cannon

Just a cannon he made three appearances for the first team for Everton before being sold to Leicester in a deal worth approximately £7.5m. He previously impressed during a loan spell with Preston North End, but Sean Dyche he did not see the young star as a solution in advance. If only he would.

The aptly named number nine has enjoyed a rich run of goalscoring form with Stoke this season, scored nine goals in 22 gamesincluding an incredible four goals against Portsmouth in early October, leading Potters Correspondent Pete Smith welcome the “crazy” effort.

An active and intelligent player, Cannon’s dribbling ability allows him to shoot past the goalkeeper, using his movement and pace to run into openings, into the gaps between the lines.

The relaxed gait and charged confidence from his performances at the Bet 365 Stadium could be exactly what Moyes needs to front his system, as Cannon missed just nine big chances – the same as his goal tally – during the 2024/25 league campaign. according to Sofascorealso with an average of 0.5 key passes and 4.4 successful duels per game.

Calvert-Lewin, on the contrary, has missed 11 big chances in the Premier League this term, although of course the 27-year-old has only scored two goals.

What to do? One thing is certain: Everton cannot afford to exit the January transfer market without fresh quality at number nine.

Let’s not forget that 17th-placed Ipswich Town host Brighton & Hove Albion tonight and a win would push Everton closer to the precipice, and dangerously so.

There are extenuating circumstances (there always are). Dwight McNeil has missed the last six matches with a knee injury and we really miss his playing quality. He is created nine great chances of 13 top-flight matches this year, averaging an impressive 2.5 key passes per game. However, ‘DCL’ tried unsuccessfully.

The solution could be a younger and more dynamic striker in Cannon – and one who knows the club. The 5-foot-11 ace ranks in the top 19% of centre-forwards competing in the league this season in shots and 14% in aerial duels won per 90, according to FBref.

That last indicator probably provides the most compelling reading. Calvert-Lewin, for all its faults, is a monstrous focal point in the air, with former teammate Richarlison he once even claimed that he “has an incredible jump, like Cristiano Ronaldo.”

That’s more than a little food for thought, isn’t it? Everton have a strong defensive base and a hard-working unit working under a hard-working manager who will hopefully expand the squad’s horizons in the coming months.

But Calvert-Lewin cannot be allowed to continue to struggle in the final third, and with Broja ruled out and potentially called back to Stamford Bridge, Cannon could be the one to bring Everton back into the limelight.