Everton supporters in the Transfer Tavern were again bemoaning a poor performance from their side over the weekend after seeing the Toffees draw 1-1 at Brighton on Sunday, a result which leaves the Merseyside outfit just two places above the Premier League’s bottom three after eight games of the season.

Ronald Koeman’s men went into their encounter at the AMEX Stadium having mustered just two victories from their opening seven league matches, and looked set to suffer a fourth away defeat on the bounce when Anthony Knockaert gave Chris Hughton’s Seagulls the lead just eight minutes from time. However, the Toffees snatched a point from proceedings when Bruno elbowed Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the penalty area, from which Wayne Rooney slotted home the resulting spot-kick to grab a 1-1 draw from the clash, although it hasn’t entirely eased the pressure on manager Koeman.

The Dutchman remains under-fire following a disappointing start to the season despite spending over £100 million in the summer, yet it seems that more will need to be spent in January to enhance the squad at Goodison Park, notably in the attacking department.

And as such it’s little surprise to see them linked with a striker in recent times, although their reported interest in Liverpool’s Danny Ings has come as somewhat of a shock to our resident Evertonians.

The one-time England international has struggled with injury throughout his three-year stint at Anfield, but looks to be on the road to recovery having made four Premier League 2 appearances for the Reds this season, as well as a substitute cameo in their Carabao Cup defeat at Leicester City last month.

Yet a move away could well be in the offing for Ings in January and Goodison Park could be a potential destination, and here are TWO other players who could indeed follow the striker to Everton in January…

William Carvalho

William Carvalho’s proposed move to West Ham was in the pipeline for much of the final few weeks of the summer transfer window, only for no move to materialise, for one reason or another.

However, Everton have since expressed an interest in landing the Sporting Lisbon midfielder in January, which would certainly help their own midfield ranks given the unconvincing starts made by current first-choice duo Idrissa Gueye and Morgan Schneiderlin, the latter who was at fault for Brighton’s goal on Sunday.

25-year-old Carvalho is a European Championship winner and a stalwart of the Sporting midfield, so certainly knows his way around top level football, and given he was close to leaving the club in the summer, it’s plausible that he could end up at Everton by the end of January.

Thomas Vermaelen

Former Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen confirmed back in October that he was close to joining Everton during the summer, only for current club Barcelona to state their intentions for keeping him.

However, with first team football highly unlikely between now and January, what with the Belgium international having yet to appear for Ernesto Valverde’s side, and a World Cup coming up next summer, the 31-year-old may seek a move away in the New Year.

Vermaelen proved his worth to Arsenal during his five-year stint in North London, although injuries thwarted his progress, and even though those injuries concerns haven’t completely subsided, there’s little doubt that he’d bolster Everton’s centre-back options, especially given the poor start Ashley Williams has made this term.

And a move to Goodison Park could well be in the offing come January.