Jamie Redknapp believes that the current Everton squad is still short of breaking into the top six of the Premier League and highlighted how they have failed to emulate Liverpool.
The Toffees were well beaten at home to Tottenham on Saturday as Harry Kane (two) and Christian Eriksen goals secured three points for the visitors in a 3-0 scoreline.
Ronald Koeman enjoyed a busy summer window and managed to strengthen his starting line-up considerably, with the likes of Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wayne Rooney all making big impacts in the side.
However, he was unable to bring in a recognised centre-forward to fill the void left by Romelu Lukaku.
Sky Sports pundit Redknapp claims that Everton tried to copy Merseyside rivals Liverpool in spreading goals around the team, but feels they are missing that focal point in attack.
Redknapp insists that the Toffees will miss out on the top six this season due to their lack of options in attack.
“Everton may have splashed out almost £150million this summer but Ronald Koeman will have gone to bed on Saturday night bemoaning the lack of balance in his team,” Redknapp wrote in the Mail. “Rather than replacing Romelu Lukaku, it seems Everton have tried to emulate neighbours Liverpool in spreading the goals around.
“Wayne Rooney, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Davy Klaassen are all similar players who can thrive as No 10s but where is the target man? On paper, Everton’s transfer business suggests they can break into the top six. In practice, they have left themselves short.”
Koeman is currently lacking a recognised central figure and there are suggestions that Oumar Niasse could be promoted from the Under-23s side to make a sensational return to the first team.
OPINION
Everton are yet to really hit top form in the opening four games of the season, but it’s certainly still too early to write them off for a top-six place. Most of the elite clubs in England have all shown a weakness already this campaign and there are still 34 league matches to play. Koeman’s side will no doubt need to improve, but they do have the creative stars in the shape of Rooney and Sigurdsson that will play a major role with their goal contributions. Everton would be hugely improved by a powerful centre-forward and potentially Niasse could do that until January at least, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Sandro Ramirez are also in contention.