Dean Windass – who made 104 Premier League appearences – has identified a striker he believes could serve as a ready-made striker replacement in the mould of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
According to Eurosport, Everton have been tracking 20-year-old American starlet Daryl Dike who joined Barnsley on loan from Orlando City following the temporary suspension of the MLS.
Dike has mustered a formidable tally of 7 goals to his name in the Championship in just 13 appearences, four of which came off the bench.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Everton scouts have been left enamoured with Dike’s convincing displays, but the report adds he could set the Toffees back by $20 million (£14.6 million).
Indeed, the young American has played an integral role for his new side since his February switch from Florida to Oakwell, with Barnsley pushing hard to defend the play-off position they find themselves in.
With such an impressive spell of form to his name, Everton scouts were not the only figures left impressed.
Dean Windass – who famously received three red cards in one game – spoke to the Transfer Tavern on the attributes that Dike possesses and how he could step up if Everton sell their talismanic striker:
“He’s going well, and speaking to Mark Crossley, one of my ex-teammates, he said they’re very direct and play to the boy’s strengths.
“I can see him at Everton, I can’t see him at Leeds. I can only see it at Everton if Calvert-Lewin isn’t there. The boy from Barnsley, is it too big of a step at this present time? So Everton I can see, if Calvert-Lewin goes.”
With Richarlison serving more as a winger than a direct forward, and Josh King only on a short-term deal with minimal action to his name for the Blues this season, it is hard to see Calvert-Lewin leaving.
However, a deal for Dike could be a useful contingency plan if a gargantuan and irresistible offer did come in for the England international.
In other news: Ex-Toffees ace furious with Everton’s handling of Crystal Palace