8 goals in 14 games – Everton breaking the bank to sign this Bundesliga ace is the perfect solution to Silva’s goalscoring woes

Why Everton must break their bank for Alassane Plea in January

With less than a month to go for the winter transfer market to open, Everton boss Marco Silva needs to evaluate his team’s shortcomings and the areas of the pitch he wants to strengthen.

If one has watched Everton play this season, it is quite clear they need a centre-forward and a right-winger in January. Ironically, these are the two positions the Toffees spent big in the last January transfer market.

Sam Allardyce, Marco Silva’s predecessor, stumped up good money to sign Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun from Arsenal and Besiktas respectively. Tosun and Walcott were expected to Everton to greater heights and although the latter has shown flashes of his quality, the former has simply been underwhelming.

Tosun is yet to fully adapt to the demands of the Premier League since his transfer from Besiktas, netting just three times in his last 22 matches for the Toffees. The returns are low from the Turkish international, considering how potent he was in front of goal while playing in his native. His poor form has prompted Silva to use left winger Richarlison through the middle on several occasions this term.

With Tosun struggling to hit top form, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s of experience, Oumar Niasse’s uncertain future (h/t The Mirror) and Richarlison excelling majorly from the left, Silva must prioritize signing a forward next month. That said, Everton must make an audacious attempt to sign Borussia Monchengladbach star Alassane Plea.

Alassane Plea, 25, arrived at Borussia Monchengladbach from OGC Nice this summer as the club’s relatively unknown record transfer. He has quickly established himself as a star in the Bundesliga, netting eight goals and supplying a further three assists in 14 league games. He has scored another three goals in the German Cup.

The Frenchman is a pacy forward who is comfortable playing anywhere across the frontline. Standing at 5ft 11in, Plea is not particularly tall for a centre-forward but he has the ability to dominate the opposition in the air, owing to his athleticism which allows him to get off the ground quickly and time his jump to perfection. He is a technically gifted player who can make subtle runs behind the defenders while excelling with his clinical nature in front of the goal.

The 25-year-old would arrive at Goodison Park with an impressive goalscoring record and would offer Everton a different dimension in the attack. Furthermore, he has the vision to play his teammates in behind the opposition’s backline with incisive passes. All in all, Plea could just be the X-factor Everton are in dire need of up front.

Everton clearly need more firepower up front to qualify for the Europa League next season and Plea fits the bill. However, Silva could find it difficult to get the French forward in January as Monchengladbach will be reluctant to lose their star striker in the middle of the season.

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That said, the Toffees must make an offer for Plea that Monchengladbach simply cannot refuse.