What next for Everton after deadline day nightmare leaves them short?

Having allowed Beto to join Serie A outfit Fiorentina for £14.6million, the Toffees were unable to sign a replacement, with a move for Monaco's Folarin Balogun collapsing at the 11th hour.

However, it was not all doom and gloom for the Toffees as they secured Jack Grealish for another season, as well as Ainsley Maitland-Niles for £3m from Lyon.

With Thierno Barry as the only recognised striker, where does this leave Everton and could they yet bring in another reinforcement despite the window closing?

The Folarin Balogun transfer saga explained

After a fine summer for the United States at the World Cup, where he bagged three goals in four appearances, Balogun reportedly had significant interest from the Premier League.

One of those clubs, Everton, let Beto leave the Hill Dickinson on deadline day, evidently expecting a striker to arrive in his place, with the Toffees agreeing a £40m deal with Monaco for Balogun.

The United States international then travelled to Merseyside to complete his medical, but an issue emerged prompting the club to renegotiate the deal.

In the midst of all this, the Toffees scrambled to find an alternative, with Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee and Aston Villa's Tammy Abraham explored, but both approaches were unsuccessful.

Although a revised deal was agreed, the striker pulled out of the move as he was unhappy with how he was treated by Everton's medical team, according to Monaco's CEO, Thiago Scuro.

Could Everton sign a free agent?

With Everton unable to do business with other clubs, the only feasible route they can take is the free agent market.

Anthony Martial has been offered to the Merseyside club, according to TEAMtalk; the former United forward is available as a free agent after leaving Mexican club Monterrey in June.

Martial enjoyed his best returns in the 2019/20 season with the Red Devils, when he bagged 17 league goals, but he has since failed to net more than six in a single campaign.

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Other forwards available for nothing include Jordan Ayew, Jamie Vardy, Joselu, Michail Antonio and Andrea Belotti, who could all provide a backup option to Barry.

While these are all ageing short-term fixes, Everton find themselves in a hole and cannot go a whole season with just one recognised number nine.

One man who could have done a job there is Iliman Ndiaye, whose move to Manchester City ironically prevented Richarlison from being able to leave Tottenham for David Moyes' side.

All in all, Everton endured a disaster on deadline day, and they are now paying the price for allowing their assets to leave before securing replacements.

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