Sam Allardyce throws doubt on future Everton transfer business

Sam Allardyce says Everton are unlikely to make any more signings this month, with the focus instead on moving players on.

The Toffees confirmed the signing Theo Walcott earlier this week for around £20m, their second attacking capture of the window following the arrival of striker Cenk Tosun.

Though both signings have been well received and address deficiencies in the squad, there is still a dire need for a left-back.

With an ageing Leighton Baines still out injured and Cuco Martina struggling out of position, it seems obvious that a left-sided defender is required before the deadline.

However, when Allardyce was asked whether there would be any further arrivals, he replied:

“I don’t think so. We are in the position of moving players on, the squad is too big. There are 32 players.

“Reducing those squad numbers is important for the football club - although we don’t know who the players moving on are because you’re waiting for clubs to show an interest- moving players on is the order for us.”

Most Everton fans will be horrified at those words given the left-back position is such a glaring weakness in the team.

We can only hope Allardyce is either engaging in a bit of kidology or he has seen enough to Luke Garbutt or even Brendan Galloway to bring him back into the first-team fold.

If not, then he is failing to address an obvious weakness in the team and can expect some criticism to come his way.