Everton’s ‘missing link right now’ is a striker, but manager Frank Lampard will be encouraged by their performances, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Toffees have failed to win any of their opening six Premier League fixtures of the season and have often been frustrated in front of goal despite putting in some battling displays.

What is the latest news involving Everton?

Lampard lost key attacker Richarlison over the summer after he was sold to Tottenham Hotspur in a £60 million deal.

Everton were able to replace the Brazil international with Dwight McNeil and Neal Maupay, though, but an injury to Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the eve of the campaign was a major setback.

The 25-year-old struggled with several fitness problems throughout 2021/22, and his continued absence appears to be having a detrimental effect on the Goodison Park outfit’s results.

Yet Everton have still earned draws against the likes of Liverpool, Leeds United and Brentford despite failing to score over one goal in any of their fixtures.

What has Phillips said about Everton?

Transfer insider Dean Jones previously informed GiveMeSport that Lampard wanted three new attackers at the club, but the Everton hierarchy were unable to deliver, and Phillips believes that will have caused some disappointment.

He said: “He's stabilising at the moment. And I think it's not the worst form of performances that we're seeing from them, they can improve, sure, but I think at the moment, Lampard is going to be content with how it's going.

“They're making sure that they are in there, and they've been hard to beat themselves, so that's an improvement from last season. I think if Lampard got his striker, which is the missing link right now, I think we'd be seeing much more better results.

“But he's obviously disappointed that they didn't manage to get that done, but it's whether they can push on now and improve on where they are. But I think it's encouraging signs right now for Everton and Lampard, they’re playing some better football. And all you've got to do is improve game by game really.”

Who could Everton have signed?

Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton Diaz was strongly linked with a move to the blue half of Merseyside after entering the final year of his contract at Ewood Park.

The Championship outfit turned down two approaches from Fulham after they failed to meet their £20m asking price, though, and Everton evidently weren’t prepared to stump up that figure either.

Only time will tell if Everton come to regret that decision, but Calvert-Lewin’s return to full fitness surely can’t come soon enough for Lampard and co.