Everton have taken the decision to recall Ellis Simms from his loan spell at Sunderland.
Frank Lampard revealed at his Friday press conference the Blues were considering bringing the 21-year-old back to Goodison Park in a bid to bolster attacking options, made possible by a clause in his contract enabling Everton to cut short his stay in the north east.
Simms joined the Black Cats during the summer transfer window and has played a key role in the club's climb up the Championship table, having scored four times in his last six appearances. This follows two other successful temporary stints at Blackpool and Hearts respectively.
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The Blues have struggled for goals this season, manging only 12 in their opening 16 Premier League matches, and have been hit by the summer sale of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin's repeated injury setbacks. Salomon Rondon's recent departure has only added to the need for reinforcements in this area of the pitch, having left the club short of another attacking option.
Work is going on behind the scenes regarding strengthening the forward line, having drawn up a shortlist of before the World Cup with a focus on the loan market. Manchester United star Anthony Elanga is among those being considered by the Blues, but United boss Erik ten Hag is looking to secure his own attacking improvements before sanctioning the 20-year-old’s temporary departure.
Another forward on the Blues' radar had been Matheus Cunha, who has since agreed a loan deal with Wolves. That move includes an obligation for Wolves to eventually pay Atletico Madrid a figure of around £45m - making Cunha a target beyond Everton’s grasp.
Simms is set to officially join the Everton squad on January 1 and will be available for selection against Brighton two days later. Discussing the possibility of the Oldham-born striker being utilised as a first-team option for the second half of the season, Lampard told reporters on Friday: “We have the ability to recall him and we are considering that. It will be my decision first and foremost.
"[It would be] to give us possibly other options in an attacking sense. I think Ellis has done well there, he has scored goals. It was a loan to help his development to go to the Championship and he has done pretty well.
"That is helpful to us that he has games in his locker this year, we will look at that strongly… There is a balance of what is best for Ellis and clearly what is best for us and to get him in a position to be ready to come in and score goals.
"It is one question to be scoring in the Championship, another to be scoring goals in the Premier League as well. When we look at where we are at, and I am talking about options off the bench for us and options to start if someone shows himself. We have to look at everything in our hands and Ellis is our player."
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