Everton still trying to STRIKE the right balance

MOYES DOESN'T WANT TO DIP INTO MARKET SO BARRY DISPLAY TIMELY

- By JOE THOMAS

TROY PARROTT'S heroics for the Republic of Ireland have led to a surge in speculation about his future - and predictability Everton's name has come up.

The former Tottenham Hotspur forward's goals have given Blues like Seamus Coleman and Jake O'Brien a genuine chance of joining Jordan Pickford and others from Finch Farm in the USA for the World Cup next summer. His form - he has also been doing well for AZ Alkmaar - combined with Everton's struggles in front of goal make for a heady mix for the rumour mill.

Parrott is just the latest name to be mentioned in the same gasp as Everton over recent weeks, with Al-Ahli's Premier League-proven Ivan Toney and Midtjylland's inform Franculino Dju also having been linked.

With January looming, the gossip will continue for as long as Everton's strikers find it difficult to find the back of the net. That should be a powerful message to the incumbents Beto and Thierno Barry - over the coming weeks their status within David Moyes' plans is largely within their own control.

Put simply, if one or both hit form then the rumours will go away, for January at least, with next summer representing a much better time to explore options up top.

That is because Moyes and Everton would prefer not to have to dip into the market for a striker in January. There is a willingness to consider business in the new year.

The overhaul of the summer was complex and always likely to leave room for improvement and there are some areas of the squad where it is clear Everton are short of options.

But that openness to explore who is available is caveated by the desire to find value for money.

That is a tough ask in a notoriously difficult window and no more so than if the search is for a striker.

Moyes has been at pains to make that clear for some time.

He knows from experience that bringing in a goalscorer is far from easy, even when you have a decent budget available.