Everton supporters have been significantly more upbeat in the Transfer Tavern in recent times following the appointment of Sam Allardyce as manager, whose unbeaten start to life in the Goodison Park hotseat continued with a 0-0 draw at West Brom on Boxing Day.

The former England chief replaced the sacked Ronald Koeman at the end of November and has since overseen a huge upturn in form, a run which has propelled the Merseyside giants into the top half of the Premier League table. And the Toffees extended their unbeaten streak under the 63-year-old to eight matches with a goalless draw at the Hawthorns on Boxing Day, following on from their stalemate with Premier League champions Chelsea a few days earlier.

Subsequently, there have been several happier Evertonians in the Tavern in the last few weeks, many of whom are unlikely to be overly thrilled by recent comments from manager Allardyce, who has all but quashed his side’s chances of landing Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud in January.

The 31-year-old was reportedly close to a move to Goodison Park during the summer only for a no deal to materialise, yet he has since struggled for regular football at the Emirates Stadium, starting just one of their 19 Premier League matches so far.

As such, speculation has been building about a possible move in January, especially with a World Cup looming, but Allardyce has all but ruled out a deal for the France international in recent times.

Nonetheless, the Toffees should forget a move for Giroud, and as such they should target a move for one of these TWO strikers instead…

Christian Benteke

Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke has been linked with a move to Everton in recent times, and based on his Premier League record in the last few years, he could be ideal for the Toffees in the second half of the campaign.

The 27-year-old has exceeded ten goals in four of his five full seasons in the Premier League, including 15 last term to help the Eagles stave off relegation under now-Everton boss Allardyce.

And a reunion reportedly could be on the cards in January, in a deal which could seriously bolster the Toffees’ forward ranks in their quest to challenge for the European places come May.

Cenk Tosun

Cenk Tosun has been one of the most in form strikers in European football in the last 18 months or so, playing a key part in Besiktas’ run to successive Super Lig titles, as well as the last 16 of the Champions League this term.

The 26-year-old made the move to the Turkish giants back in 2014 and has since bagged 63 goals in just 141 games for the club, including 12 goals in just 22 games this time round to help them to fourth place in the Turkish top-flight, and indeed to top spot in their Champions League group.

And several English clubs have reportedly been linked with Tosun in recent times, including Everton, and if their summer business in spending over £100 million is anything to go by, Allardyce may well have the financial muscle to lure the forward to Goodison Park in January.