Everton's lack of depth has been well-documented over the past month, but it's no less perplexing for an ambitious fanbase who were forced into open mutiny against the ownership after such ineptitude this summer.

The inability to strengthen in attack, and instead weaken after player sales, is unforgivable, and Thierno Barry is now alone at No. 9, forced to fend for himself until January.

If only Beto or Iliman Ndiaye had stayed put. If only, in retrospect, Everton had encourged Dominic Calvert-Lewin back into form instead of letting him leave on a free in 2025.

How Calvert-Lewin has transformed his career at Leeds

Everton have a complicated relationship with strikers. Many flops litter the Toffees' recent history, but Calvert-Lewin has been one of the best over the past couple of decades, hitting some considerable highs at Goodison Park.

Sadly, he petered out on Merseyside, only scoring ten goals across his final two injury-hit Premier League campaigns with Everton. The 6 foot 2 striker, excellent in the air, missed 32 big chances across those two terms.

He is reborn at Elland Road. More power to him. Leeds and Daniel Farke have benefited immensely from Calvert-Lewin's revived presence at No. 9, the focal point serving well as the target from which the industrious Whites can build toward.

DCL will never be the most clinical shooter in Europe, but he has rediscovered his efficiency in the Premier League for Leeds.

It should go without saying that Everton miss their former frontman, especially when considering how he contrasts with Barry.

Why Everton still miss Calvert-Lewin

Barry, 23, is a talented striker, but so much now rests on his shoulders - and after a maiden campaign in the Premier League that saw him leave an awful lot to be desired.

David Moyes has been left with a threadbare squad after Angus Kinnear's disastrous summer transfer window. Had Calvert-Lewin been allowed to grow back into his boots at the Hill Dickinson, he might have proved the difference-maker last year - let alone now, with the Blues lacking options in attack.

The 11-cap England international has been gone for a year, though, and there's no use crying over former strikers. Internal options must be utilised for now, but when January comes around, Moyes must push to sign a contrasting attacking profile to Barry in attack.

Calvert-Lewin is out of reach, but Everton are eager to sign their next version.

Everton chasing the new Calvert-Lewin

Calvert-Lewin in his current form is evoking frustrating nostalgia at Everton, but they need to look forward if they are going to achieve their goals under Moyes, and the manager is determined to sign the new Calvert-Lewin to challenge Barry for a spot.

According to TEAMtalk, Everton are among a number of Premier League outfits currently tracking Eintracht Frankfurt forward Younes Ebnoutalib, with and Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur also in the race.

The German attacker is going from strength to strength, and with Everton having kept close tabs on him for some time now, it might be wise for Moyes to start ramping up the gas and beating away the competition ahead of the January transfer window.

After all, he's making startling progress. This season, he has scored five goals and supplied two assists across five games. Journalist Antonio Mango put it best, "Supply him and he'll be prolific".

Don't take it from us, though. After such an exciting start to the season, Ebnoutalib has been called up to international action by Jurgen Klopp, the Germany manager valuing the 23-year-old's dynamic link-up play and rangy frame.

The 6 foot 3 striker has some similarities with Calvert-Lewin, but he would actually bring further dimensions to the system. Indeed, his top speed in the Bundesliga this season has been recorded at 35.5 km/h, making him one of the fastest players in the division.

Moreover, Ebnoutalib is dribbling with intensity and regularity, willing to get involved across various phases of play while still maintaining the kind of clinical form in front of goal that Everton haven't seen with such consistency since DCL fired them in back in his heyday on Merseyside, under the management of Carlo Ancelotti.

Ebnoutalib has made a flying start to the 2026/27 season, and given that he would present a striking contrast with Barry at No. 9, there's no reason for Moyes not to push to get this one over the line.

Calvert-Lewin's recent form might be somewhat frustrating for the Everton persuasion, but they could sign a new and improved version by raiding Frankfurt for their prolific forward.