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Fast. Strong. Good in the air. Could the Almeria striker be the solution to Everton’s attacking problems?

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A lot of elements are missing from Everton’s squad as Sean Dyche’s side head back to Finch Farm for the start of pre-season.

Everton, it could be argued, need a player in each of the following positions:

• Second-choice goalkeeper
• Left-back
• Centre-back
• Central midfield
• Right midfield

However, the most glaring need of all is up front, where Everton should be targeting not just one, but two forwards.

An alternative to Dominic Calvert-Lewin is obviously lacking. In the past two seasons, the lack of a viable option to replace the striker – who must now be firmly considered in the “injury prone” category – has been a major factor in the Toffees’ problems.

The Neal Maupay experiment hasn’t gone to plan (which should come as no real shock) and Ellis Simms was unfairly thrown in at the deep end, with his only two starts under Dyche, after he was recalled from a successful spell on loan at Sunderland by Frank Lampard, coming at Anfield and Old Trafford.

On the positive side, Everton have already been linked to several forwards. On the flip side, those players cost money.

Premier League experience in that position was prioritised in 2022, but that same mistake cannot be made again, at least not with a main purchase. Sure, Leeds United’s Rodrigo Moreno could be a smart acquisition at a low price, but at 32 he cannot be the only striker to come in, or the main option to replace Calvert-Lewin.

Looking further afield is crucial, and Everton have extensively scouted El Bilal Toure, Almeria’s 21-year-old, Malian striker.

He moved to Almeria from Reims for a reported €8million last year, and scored seven times in 21 LaLiga appearances.

It was reported this week that Everton had informed Almeria they were prepared to trigger Toure’s €40m (£34m) release clause, though More Than A Game understands those reports may be somewhat premature. There is, however, certainly interest, with Almeria’s president having confirmed Everton have held discussions with the Spanish club, though there is also interest in Toure from multiple Serie A teams.

Toure could be another player that Everton ultimately miss out on because they failed to take a risk when he was available at a lower price. But, would he be worth the outlay now?

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Statistically, Toure is very similar to Calvert-Lewin. He has a good turn of pace, he is strong in the air and powerful enough to back into opposing defenders.

Last season, he played solely as a number nine, within either a 433 or 4231. His role within Almeria’s set-up was to either hold the ball up and allow his side to progress up the pitch through the use of long balls from deep, or to stretch the opposition’s defence by utilising his pace in behind.

He last started a game out wide in November, when he played on the left flank for Mali against Algeria, and in club football he last played away from the central berth in 2021, while at Reims.

However, he has the ability and the skillset to play a similar role that Richarlison used to occupy as an inside forward on the left or right. This would mean a change in system, though, and it seems unlikely to happen under Dyche. Due to the similarity in their profiles, Calvert-Lewin and Toure might not make the most balanced of partnerships in a two.

His seven LaLiga goals came from only 1,275 minutes, which places him 10th for goals per 90. Toure is certainly not a prolific shot taker; indeed, 1.99 per 90 isn’t enough for a striker. That being said, given he played for a side that finished only one point above the relegation places, it is not particularly surprising. When he does shoot, however, his conversion rate is very strong.

Toure is strong in the air and alert in the box. As the ball is progressed down the wing, he likes to peel away towards the back post but, as the cross comes in, he often darts back across towards the front post unmarked, as seen for this goal against Espanyol.

His finishing is perhaps not the most cultured, which is another trait he shares with Calvert-Lewin. At times he simply looks to hit the ball as hard as he can without thinking about any sort of accuracy. Of course, this can be improved upon.

It must be said, Toure is not much of a passer. He often utilises his strength to back into defenders and bounce the ball to opponents and is adept at winning flick-ons. The youngster is certainly not creative, nor does he have an abundance of technical quality, and there is an element of simplicity to this side of his game.

It’s a similar story when viewing how he dribbles with the ball. In one-v-one scenarios and in tight spaces, I certainly wouldn’t expect him to excel. But, when carrying the ball on transitions into space, he is a real danger. Combining a powerful frame with speed is similar to how Richarlison can beat players.

As for Toure’s defending from the front, it is slightly hard to judge as Almeria do not really press and are incredibly happy to sit in and allow the opposition the ball, hence the majority of his tackles came in his own defensive third.

That being said, Toure does have that innate aggression and intensity and additionally good acceleration, so with these fundamentals, I would not be surprised if he could develop into a strong presser.

It is worth noting that Toure has not exactly gone through the early stages of his career scot-free when it comes to injuries. Indeed, he has had two worrying lay-offs over the last 18 months: a hamstring injury in February 2022, which required surgery, could be a concern saw him miss 11 league games at a pivotal moment in Almeria’s campaign.

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Fundamentally, Toure would have been an excellent pick-up last year before his move to Almeria, when there was far less of a risk, price-wise. His injury history, the price and the fact he is still rather raw are significant downsides.

However, his qualities are obvious and if Everton can bring in a player like Rodrigo, who will be able to perform immediately and thus relieve the pressure on Toure and Calvert-Lewin, then the 21-year-old would be a good option.

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By Aflie Biggs

Follow Alfie’s Twitter thread on El Bilal Toure.