After ending the transfer window with just one senior centre-forward on their books, Everton are reportedly considering a shock move for free agent and Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy to ease their attacking woes, per Sun Sport.
On deadline day, September 1, the Toffees allowed Beto to join Fiorentina for £17m, with Folarin Balogun expected to make a £39m move from Monaco to the Hill Dickinson Stadium that same day in a one-in, one-out scenario.
However, Balogun’s move collapsed in dramatic fashion after his medical reportedly flagged potential fitness and health concerns, prompting Everton to explore alternatives such as Tammy Abraham and Joshua Zirkzee, but to no avail.
Frustrated and reportedly “not comfortable” with how the club had treated him, Balogun walked away from the move to Merseyside, leaving Everton in a huge predicament. The Toffees were left with just 18 senior players, the smallest squad in the Premier League, and only one recognised senior center-forward in Thierno Barry.
That leaves Everton weighing up a move for Premier League veteran Vardy, who is currently a free agent after leaving Serie B side Cremonese this summer following their relegation last season.
How Did Everton and Vardy Get Here?
The striker debacle at Hill Dickinson Stadium has been dubbed “a disaster” by Evertonians, further increasing scrutiny of owners The Friedkin Group and chief executive Angus Kinnear amid other questionable decisions this summer, including the departure of prospect Harrison Armstrong and the deadline-day sale of winger Iliman Ndiaye.
With the ability to sign players from other clubs now gone, the Toffees appear to be scrambling for reasonable alternatives, with former Premier League, FA Cup and England international Jamie Vardy emerging as a potential short-term fix.
Despite being 39, Vardy has built a reputation for longevity. His seven goals and three assists in 29 appearances for the eventually relegated Cremonese in Serie A last season demonstrate that he can still contribute at top-flight level.
Throughout the summer, clubs have circled the Premier League veteran, with Championship sides West Ham and Wrexham reportedly interested, while his boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday have publicly expressed their desire to bring back the striker they released as a youngster 24 years ago.
There has also been interest from Brazil, specifically São Paulo, as well as from MLS clubs, meaning Vardy has not been short of options. However, it is understood that the veteran deliberately waited until after the transfer window to assess his situation and potentially secure what could be the final professional contract of his career.
Desperation or the Perfect Short-Term Fix?
For Everton, that could make Vardy an appealing option: a proven Premier League goalscorer available without a transfer fee, albeit one who would represent more of a short-term solution than a long-term answer.
If the Toffees manage to sign the veteran, Vardy would likely be used sparingly unless injuries leave David Moyes short of options, particularly with former Manchester United forward Anthony Martial also reportedly offered to the Toffees after failing to make an impact at Mexican side Monterrey.
Compared to the likes of Wrexham and Sheffield Wednesday, wages should not be a major issue given Everton’s financial position and the significant funds received from player sales this summer.
Regardless, Vardy’s 183 goals in 440 appearances for Leicester stand as a highly impressive record. Even if the veteran’s pace and agility are no longer what they once were, Everton’s desperate gamble could potentially prove to be an effective short-term solution for at least a year.
Despite the chaos behind the scenes, Everton remain a major club capable of offering Vardy a platform to make an impact and help ease any lingering fears of a relegation battle.
Yet much could come down to what the striker wants. A rival offer could provide more regular football, a better chance of promotion, or even the opportunity to return to his boyhood club Sheffield Wednesday for a fairytale ending to his career.
For now, though, it's down to the man himself on where he may start his final chapter.
