With Premier League football now on hold for the next six weeks, all eyes turn to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup.
Everton fans may welcome a rest from the rigours of club football after Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth left them just one point and one place above the relegation zone. Frank Lampard's side have now gone three full league games without scoring and will spend Christmas Day in a perilous position.
The Blues boss has been clear in his demand for more attacking threat after the break, and will likely dip into the January market to add such quality - late summer bids for Mohammed Kudus and Mykhaylo Mudryk are proof of the calibre of player he wants. And while mid-season is undoubtedly a ridiculous time to squeeze in a major international tournament, it will give Lampard and his staff an opportunity to scout fresh talent ahead of the transfer window.
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Here are five potential World Cup stars that Everton should be keeping an eye on.
Nicolas Jackson - Senegal
Reports over the last few weeks have named Everton as one of several Premier League clubs interested in Nicolas Jackson, and the scouting department at the club would be minded to keep tabs on the forward's form with Senegal over the next six weeks.
The 21-year-old, currently of Valencia, can play on either wing and broke into the Spanish side's first team under now Aston Villa boss Unai Emery. This season he has two goals and two assists from 13 La Liga appearances, earning him a place in the Senegal squad where he will be crucial to any success, particularly if Sadio Mane's injury keeps him sidelined for long.
Jonathan David - Canada
Another with fleeting links to Everton in recent weeks has been Canada star Jonathan David. The 22-year-old joined Lille from Belgian outfit Gent in August 2020 and has since bagged an impressive 41 goals in 111 games across all competitions, including nine from 15 games so far this campaign.
A dynamic and energetic striker standing at 5ft 8in, the Canadian is definitely more Neal Maupay than Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but his intelligent runs and interplay could dovetail well with the likes of Anthony Gordon and Demarai Gray at Goodison.
David is on the radar of several clubs, and for good reason, but the Toffees have previous recent dealings with Lille and have an ace up their sleeve in the form of Amadou Onana - the Belgian played with David before arriving at Goodison and has made no secret of his love for the Blues already.
Gonzalo Plata - Ecuador
Plenty of the world's top scouting departments will have eyes on Ecuador as they drool over Brighton's Moises Caicedo, but any scout worth their salt will also have their attention caught by a certain Gonzalo Plata. The 22-year-old only returned to fitness after an ankle injury in October but is already backed to play a huge part in any success this winter as the South American nation attempt to reach the knockouts for the second time in their history.
A devastatingly explosive right-winger, Plata is raw and unfinished as a player, but a brilliant season on loan with Real Valladolid in La Liga.2 last season saw him bag six goals and five assists as they gained promotion, and the Spanish side made his move permanent in the summer.
While it may be with an eye on next summer rather than January, a well-timed move for Plata could provide a bargain before he truly explodes.
Kamaldeen Sulemana - Ghana
Similarly to Plata, Ghana's Kamaldeen Sulemana is a raw but incredibly exciting young talent. The wide forward first caught the eye at Danish side FC Nordsjælland before a big move to Rennes in 2021. Goals have been steady without blowing anyone away in France, with the 20-year-old scoring four goals in 10 Ligue 1 appearances last season and just the one goal so far this campaign.
But as with the Ecuadorian winger, snapping up Sulemana early could bring with it massive returns, and Rennes have a knack of spotting these talents before they come onto the European stage - think former Leeds star Raphinha. Expect to see a lot of explosive and direct running from the winger as he looks to enjoy a breakout tournament.
Goncalo Ramos - Portugal
While it may be a touch optimistic, Everton have proved they can land a big-money signing when the time is right and did so with Onana's summer arrival for £33million. The simple objective of the January window for Lampard is to add goals, and Ramos' 14 goals in 21 games for Benfica this season is proof that the 21-year-old was ready to step into the boots left by Darwin Nunez.
Those numbers are already attracting interest form the likes of Wolves and Newcastle United, however, and a strong six weeks in Qatar is only likely to increase the calibre of teams keeping tabs on the striker. But there's no reason Everton's scouting department cannot see him as an optimistic option.
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