Louis Saha believes a move for Danny Ings could help solve Everton's woes in the final third.
One win in their last 10 Premier League games has seen Everton slip to 18th in the table, with just Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton below them. After last week's 4-1 thrashing by Brighton at Goodison Park, the pressure continues to mount on Blues boss Lampard.
Despite a multitude of issues, the most glaring problem for the Blues has been a lack of ruthlessness in the final third, which is highlighted by the 16 Premier League goals they have mustered in 18 league games this season - the fifth lowest in the division.
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After a promising start to the campaign, Anthony Gordon has endured a prolonged struggle for form in decisive areas of the pitch and has not found the back of the net since October's resounding 3-0 victory at home Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, summer recruit Dwight McNeil has just two goals in 20 appearances since his switch from Burnley. Demarai Gray is Everton's top goalscorer with his five strikes in all competitions ranking him ahead of the aforementioned duo and the injury-stricken Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
A loan move for the former Liverpool striker Ings was said to have been rebuffed earlier this month as Lampard and sporting director Kevin Thelwell look to add a clinical bite to the Blues' ranks. Saha, however, who scored 35 goals in 115 appearances during a three-and-a-half-year stint at Everton, believes the three-cap England international could be the answer to Lampard's problems.
"I think Everton moving for Danny Ings makes a lot of sense," Saha told Football Odds and Betting. "He’s a striker who’s always had an eye for goal and he would be a big boost up front for Everton.
"They’re missing that link up front and they don’t have enough chances in games - just like we saw against (Manchester) United.
"You always face players who put you under pressure but Everton don’t have that and they need someone who knows where the goal is - Ings can bring that."
The Blues are at home to Southampton on Saturday in what is arguably the biggest match of their season so far. And Saha believes a more direct approach will be needed if his former club are to pull away from the Saints and those in and around the bottom three.
"Lampard and Everton board are both to blame for Everton's struggles," said the former France international. "I respect Lampard so much as a player and a manager. Other big managers like Carlo Ancelotti found it difficult, too. Lampard has to be questioned because the team keep making the same mistakes and Everton need to take less risks and be more direct.
"The tactics need to change and Lampard will never hide from the decisions and the players have to take responsibility because there are too many individual mistakes - as that’s why they are fighting relegation."
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