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Published Sep 13, 2026, 5:15 PM GMT+1
Daniel is an experienced football writer and editor with more than a decade of experience covering the professional game, specialising in the Championship, Football League and Scottish football, alongside in-depth coverage of Norwich City, Celtic and Rangers.
A journalist since 2015, Daniel began his career writing for Fresh Press before progressing into a full-time writing and editing role, producing club-focused coverage for Read Norwich, Read Celtic, Read Liverpool and Read Arsenal. He later spent almost a year with Liverpool-based outlet Anfield Watch, where his work included conducting and transcribing interviews with figures including Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, former Wycombe striker Adebayo Akinfenwa and journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Daniel has worked with Snack Media (now Valnet) since 2021, contributing to Football FanCast as both a writer and editor. His work focuses particularly on player analysis, transfer insight and original football features, combining detailed knowledge of the game with research-driven assessment of players, clubs and potential moves.
His specialist knowledge of Norwich City and the Football League has also seen him contribute to BBC Norfolk and assist DAZN with research for commentary broadcasts. As a Norwich City season-ticket holder, Daniel brings a level of first-hand knowledge of the club and its players that complements his wider expertise across the Championship and EFL. His Norwich coverage has also featured in publications including the Coventry Telegraph and Liverpool Echo.
Alongside his Football League expertise, Daniel has covered Celtic and Rangers extensively, developing a strong understanding of Scottish football. His work gives readers informed transfer assessment, detailed player analysis and authoritative insight into clubs and competitions he has spent years following and reporting on.
Everton are considering their options in the free agent transfer market after they failed to bring in a new centre-forward before the end of the summer transfer window.
After allowing Beto to sign for Fiorentina, the Toffees had agreed a £45m deal to sign Folarin Balogun from AS Monaco before backing out of a move due to an issue in his medical.
REUTERS/Manon CruzFormer Argentina international Mauro Icardi is one of the free agents who has emerged as a potential option for the club, after he left Galatasaray at the end of last season.
They are also said to have held talks with former Manchester United striker Anthony Martial, whose contract with Mexican outfit CF Monterrey ended in the summer.
Why Everton should avoid signing Icardi or Martial
The Toffees need a short-term free agent option who can help them in the next six to 12 months to fill a gap before they can go back into the market to sign a long-term number nine, as they attempted to do with Balogun.
Icardi, however, is only 33 and may want a longer-term solution and a big contract, as it may be his last significant contract, which is why he may not be the ideal fit for what Everton are looking for.
The Argentine striker, who scored 77 goals in 134 games for Galatasary, would be a terrific option in the here and now, but his presence could prevent the club from signing a long-term striker in the coming transfer windows.
Martial, meanwhile, would not be a good signing for the Toffees because his form in front of goal in recent years, for various clubs, has not been good enough.
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2026 |
8 |
1 |
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2025 |
12 |
|
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24/25 |
19 |
7 |
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23/24 |
19 |
2 |
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22/23 |
29 |
9 |
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21/22 |
23 |
2 |
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20/21 |
36 |
7 |
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19/20 |
48 |
23 |
The former France international has not reached double figures for goals in a season since the 2019/20 campaign, six years ago, and could be a goal-shy striker for David Moyes.
The free agent striker Everton should sign over Icardi and Martial
Thankfully, for Everton, there are several other free agent strikers who could arrive at the Hill Dickinson to offer them the short-term help that they need in that position.
REUTERS/Eloisa SanchezOne free agent number nine who would be an even better signing than Martial and Icardi would be former Real Madrid and Newcastle United attacker Joselu.
The 17-cap Spain international, who was part of his country's European Championship winning squad in 2024, has been without a club since he left Qatar-based side Al-Gharafa at the start of July.
He spent two years with the Qatari club after leaving Real Madrid in 2024 and ended his time there with a return of 28 goals and five assists in 58 appearances, including ten goals in 23 matches in the 2025/26 campaign.
Unlike Icardi, Joselu could be the perfect free agent to come in and offer short-term relief for the Blues, as he turns 37 next March and may not want a two or three-year contract.
The Spanish marksman could come in on a one-year contract to fill a gap in the squad in the here and now, without blocking the path for the club to sign a long-term striker next year.
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25/26 |
23 |
10 |
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24/25 |
35 |
18 |
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23/24 |
49 |
18 |
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22/23 |
38 |
17 |
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21/22 |
38 |
14 |
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20/21 |
38 |
11 |
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19/20 |
37 |
11 |
Unlike Martial, Joselu also has a terrific goalscoring record in recent seasons, which suggests that he could make a big impact for Moyes in the Premier League in the here and now.
He has not failed to reach double figures for goals in a season since the 2018/19 campaign, which speaks to both his quality and consistency, and he has shown that he can perform under pressure on the biggest stages.
In the 2023/24 campaign, Joselu scored 18 goals in all competitions for Spanish giants Real Madrid, including five goals in 11 matches as his side won the Champions League.
The 36-year-old attacker ticks all the boxes for Everton because he is at the age where he may be content to be a short-term squad option for the club, but still has the quality to be impactful in the Premier League.
Joselu also has previous experience in England, scoring ten goals in 68 Premier League games for Stoke and Newcastle, which means that he already knows about the intensity and physicality of English football.
Therefore, Moyes should be pushing to convince the Champions League-winning centre-forward to return to England this summer, rather than pursuing Icardi or Martial.
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