'I will sign Alexis Sanchez' - Koeman reveals plan for Everton transfer business for January
By Abigail Withey
Everton boss Ronald Koeman has revealed that he never expected to replace the club's former goal-machine Romelu Lukaku after he moved to Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
Last season, the 24-year-old scored 26 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions for the Toffees and his departure has left the club lacking a strong leading goalscorer.
Despite signing attackers Sandro Ramirez and Wayne Rooney, Koeman's side still failed to fill the void left by the Belgian.
The Dutch manager has revealed that he is focused on finally finding a replacement in the January transfer window and has jokingly named a host of top strikers which he would try and bring to Goodison Park.
"When we sold Lukaku I didn’t think at that time we would get a striker in who would score at least 25 goals because maybe it is impossible to find that striker," the Blues boss explained, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.
"If I can sign Messi I will sign Messi. Or I will sign Alexis Sanchez or I will sign Ronaldo. Yeah.
"You cannot always sign somebody to replace Lukaku. What I expected was to get more goals from other players around the striker and we have now three strikers. Niasse is the third and we have Dominic and Ramirez. Totally different types.
"That was the reason we needed a target man because that gives options for the team and finally we did not find a good target."
The Liverpool Echo asked Koeman whether he was going to try to recruit a target man in January, to which he responded: "For me, yes."
Lukaku appears to have rubbed salt into the wound since leaving in the summer as his impressive goal scoring looks to have jumped to another level.
The United frontman have scored 10 goals in just nine appearances across all competitions so far this season and only looks to continue to find the back of the net under Mourinho.
In other Everton news, the Toffees have sounded out a potential January swoop for this £20millon-rated striker.
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