According to a recent report from The Daily Telegraph, Everton are interested in a move for striker Michy Batshuayi this month. The 25-year-old currently plays his football at La Liga outfit Valencia on loan from Premier League giants Chelsea, although struggles for form at the Mestalla this season has called into question the possibility that his temporary stint in Spain could come to an end this month.

And reports suggest that Marco Silva’s Everton are interested in a move for the Belgium international this month in a bid to bolster their flagging attacking options, yet the Toffees should forget about a big-money move for Batshuayi, and instead focus all their January efforts on securing a permanent deal for midfielder Andre Gomes.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, there is little doubting that the Merseysiders are struggling somewhat in the final third of the field at present, with the likes of Cenk Tosun and Oumar Niasse simply unable to produce the goods on a regular enough basis in the number nine role.

In fact, summer signing Richarlison has been used as a makeshift striker for much of the campaign to underline Silva’s lack of faith in messrs Tosun and Niasse, and while the Brazil international has performed solidly in that role, it doesn’t appear as though he is indeed the answer to their striking woes.

Yet it’s debatable whether Chelsea’s Batshuayi is as well given his serious struggles at Valencia this term, with the Belgian ace netting on just three occasions for the Spanish outfit in all competitions, only one of which coming in La Liga.

Add in his difficulties in commanding regular football at Chelsea following his move from Marseille back in 2016, which itself says quite a lot given the Blues are finding things extremely tricky in the forward ranks this term, and perhaps a reported £40 million move for the 25-year-old shouldn’t be on the January agenda.

Instead, the Toffees must seek to use that money to fund a permanent deal for midfielder Gomes, who has proven to be a revelation since making the loan move from Barcelona during the summer.

Like the striking ranks, the central midfield department was lacking in sufficient depth and quality over the summer with Idrissa Gueye very much the main man in that position, yet the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Tom Davies, and James McCarthy had failed to totally convince of their capabilities alongside the Senegal international.

Yet Gomes appears to be the answer to that particular conundrum having excelled for Everton upon return from injury back in October, with the Portugal international having started each of their last 14 Premier League games, and in that time producing many impressive displays to underline his quality in the English top-flight.

Alongside the more industrious and combative Gueye, the 25-year-old has greater technical ability and is extremely comfortable with the ball at his feet and indeed under pressure - between the duo, they have everything required to form a formidable central midfield partnership in the Premier League.

But with speculation linking Gueye with a move away, and indeed no guarantee of a permanent deal for Gomes, Silva’s men simply have to focus their efforts on striking an agreement over the latter - the Portuguese ace is too good a player for Everton to lose come the summer.

And that is why they must forget about a big money move for Batshuayi this month, and instead focus their efforts on turning Gomes’ loan move into a permanent one by the end of January.

Everton fans… what do you think? Let us know!