Everton have suffered plenty of transfer woe over the last 12 months, having lost their talisman in the summer and endured a January window which saw no incomings.
Despite receiving a £60m fee for Richarlison, his exit to Tottenham Hotspur continues to sting given how desperate the Toffees have become for goals, and how important he was to them last season.
The Brazilian netted ten times in the league, and after saving them from relegation, many Evertonians would have reluctantly admitted that he had earned the move to Spurs. However, having made just five league starts this season, his attributes are hardly being utilised in north London.
It may have led some Everton fans to jokingly suggest that he was deserving of a homecoming, to ride back into Goodison Park on loan to rescue them once again. Unsurprisingly, that was not to be.
That fantasy was likely derived from the club’s failed pursuit of Arnaut Danjuma, who had done everything but sign for the Toffees before joining Spurs at the 11th hour.
It was one of numerous failed transfer pursuits for Frank Lampard, Kevin Thelwell and eventually Sean Dyche, who now leads a threadbare and confidence-sapped squad into an all-out relegation war.
However, the lack of fresh additions could make way for the promotion of some of the club’s youth stars, something that Everton have an illustrious record of producing.
Anthony Gordon, who had only featured 78 times for their first team, commanded an eye-watering £45m fee just last month as he moved to Newcastle, so many Goodison Park graduates are regarded highly in English football circles.
Dyche could now seek to unearth his next star forward, who will hope to emulate the heroics of Richarlison in the Toffees’ hour of need.
The natural option would be Stanley Mills, who has been knocking on the door of senior football for some time now. Lampard had been vocal in his praise for the 19-year-old, to whom he handed two first-team appearances in the Carabao Cup.
He outlined why the teenager had earned his place in and around the first-team, stating: “The reason Stan’s here is that he trained really well. One day we were looking for a player for training and the staff mentioned Stan. I know Danny, so had wanted to see Stan anyway. Straight away you could see he had talent and character. He brings energy and cover.”
Mills would not only add some youthful exuberance, but also has a keen eye for goal. This season, the teenage sensation boasts five goals in eight Premier League 2 appearances, with a further three goals in four EFL Trophy matches.
He has offered a constant goal threat in the under-23 ranks and could look to convert this into Premier League success.
Should he translate his youth level form to senior level with ease, he could soon have fans forgetting about Danjuma and all the other failed January pursuits, as Evertonians would again have a reliable Richarlison-esque figure on whom they can hang their hopes.
