Everton manager Roberto Martinez will now be looking for strikers in the January transfer window. This has come to the boss’s attention as Croatian international Nikica Jelavic, departing the club to join Hull City for a reported £6.5 million; leaving only two strikers in the name of Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku and Apestolos Vellios; a player currently lacking first team experience at the moment.
Jelavic has completed the move to Steve Bruce’s side Hull City Wednesday evening, in order to search for first team opportunities and retain hope of booking a place in the Croatian squad that will travel to Brazil in June for this year’s World Cup. His goal drought for Everton over recent months has seen him slip down the pecking order in Martinez’s side; only bagging two goals in a whole calendar year.
However, Martinez will not “panic buy” as he wants the right man to fit the expectations of what he is looking for.
Martinez said: “There are many flexible players who can fill into that number nine position.”
He then added: “But it would be an area that we are looking at before the window closes. We are looking at the options to see if there is a player with the right profile who would fit into the squad.”
Jelavic arrived at Goodison Park back in the January transfer window deadline day for a fee of £5.5 million from Scottish club Rangers.
There has been uncertainty in Jelavic as he hasn’t had enough playing time and fears losing out on a place in the Croatia World Cup squad.
Martinez’s decision to off-load the striker was not intentional as he left the option to leave entirely up to the Croatian front man.
There are a few strikers on Roberto’s radar and would like to utilize their services:
-There have been strong rumours buzzing in the footballing world about Martinez inquiring the services of Stoke City striker Kenwyne Jones for an asking price of £3 million.
-Sources have revealed that Standard Liege striker Michy Batshuayi has given Martinez an insight into a replacement for Lukaku and Jelavic. Should Lukaku return to his parent club Chelsea in the summer? Although there have been reports of Lukaku wishing to extend his loan stay, if Everton succeed in getting a top four spot.
– French and Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette, has caught Martinez’s attention since the departure of Jelavic. The French front man has netted 16 goals in 84 appearances for Lyon, only at the age of 22.
In transfer departure news; Italian side Roma are leading the race to sign unsettled Dutch and Toffees defender Johnny Heitinga, after reports from Sky Sports and BBC Sport suggesting that Heitinga wishes to leave the club in this January transfer window.
