While our Everton fans here in the Transfer Tavern are enjoying the new manager bounce under Sam Allardyce, many believe that a solid transfer window can propel the club upwards in the league.

Allardyce has definitely got The Toffees back on track in recent weeks, and now thoughts start to turn towards the January transfer window, to right the wrongs of last summer. Indeed, Everton boss Allardyce will surely look to bring in some quality to ensure the only flirt with relegation will be long forgotten come the end of the season.

Allardyce plans on holding one-to-one talks with his current squad in order to find out who wants to stay or go and, obviously, this may alter his plans slightly come January. A sit down with Managing Director Steve Walsh will surely be scheduled post meetings to iron out the plans going forward, with the former Leicester City transfer supremo needing to prove himself after the summer nightmare.

With that in mind, our landlord takes a look at the two transfer issues they must put at the top of the discussions…

Defence

Allardyce must reinforce his back-line in both centre-back and full-back positions, despite the decent record he has on Merseyside in his early tenure.

Big Sam is big on keeping clean sheets in order to stop the rot in a club in a decline like the Toffees have been this season. A leader of real quality would be a welcome addition to the squad and can only aid the team, with Ashley Williams looking his age these days.

Attacker

Despite Wayne Rooney stepping up to the plate this season with his goals and other forwards chipping in with goals of late, Everton would surely benefit from a season striker that can find the net on a regular basis.

Many a manager in the past have invested in attackers to help steer them upwards and away from the dreaded relegation zone and Allardyce surely would be no different. The big problem over the course of the summer was the failure to land a decent marksman to replace Romelu Lukaku and, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin has impressed, that’s not an issue that’s gone away.