Everton's £40m move for US international Folarin Balogun collapsed late on deadline day, leaving manager David Moyes with only one striker for the first half of the season. The 25-year-old reportedly changed his mind at the final moment, despite a renegotiated deal structure and a deal sheet being submitted.
The Merseyside club had already sold Beto to Fiorentina for £15.5m and Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City for £60m plus add-ons. Enquiries for loan deals for Joshua Zirkzee from Manchester United and Tammy Abraham from Aston Villa were both rejected.
The collapse of the Balogun deal means Thierno Barry is now Everton's only recognised striker. In other transfer news, Everton signed former Arsenal player Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon for approximately £4.2m on a three-year contract, after issues securing Kenny Tete from Fulham.
Jack Grealish has also returned to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on another season-long loan from Manchester City. The 30-year-old, who enjoyed a productive spell last season before injury, expressed his happiness, stating: “I’m so happy. I think I’m at my best at everything in life, not just football, when I feel loved.”