Everton could be more likely to sign Lyon striker Moussa Dembélé as an alternative to Atalanta’s Duván Zapata for Frank Lampard’s side at Goodison Park, journalist Simon Phillips has suggested to GiveMeSport.

The Toffees are looking to make a centre-forward addition in the remaining weeks of the January transfer window.

Everton transfer news – Moussa Dembélé, Duván Zapata

The Merseyside club are expected to make another imminent attacking addition in the form of Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma, who will arrive at Goodison Park on loan until the end of the season.

As per Foot Mercato, both Everton and Aston Villa are weighing up the prospect of signing Dembélé, with the former interested in a move this month, whilst the latter is hoping to secure his signing as a free agent ahead of next season, with the striker’s £52k-per-week contract expiring in the summer.

Meanwhile, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has stated that Atalanta are unwilling to negotiate a loan deal with the Toffees and other interested clubs in Zapata, with the Serie A side’s head coach Gian Piero Gasperini saying: "I don't like all these stories on Zapata. He got injured, he's an important player for us."

Phillips has already suggested to GiveMeSport that the Toffees’ signing of the Zapata would be a “big risk” and believes that this is a transfer they should avoid.

And the journalist has suggested that the club are more likely to sign Dembélé - who signed for Lyon from Celtic in a deal worth close to £20m in 2018 - as he could bring the side “a lot more” up front.

What has Phillips said about Everton and Dembélé?

When asked about the prospect of Everton signing Dembélé, Phillips told GiveMeSport: “That's definitely one that I could see being a lot more likely [than Zapata] in terms of happening.

“What he would bring, I think would be a lot more. I think he’d be a really good option for them up top. I think he's a good player.”

Would Dembélé be a better signing than Zapata for Everton?

Dembélé – who has previously been lauded as “powerful” by his former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers – has struggled to hit form this season, having hit the back of the net just twice in 14 Ligue 1 appearances, as per Transfermarkt.

However, Zapata hasn’t fared any better, having been able to produce just a singular strike in 12 Serie A showings according to the same stats provider, showing that neither has been prolific domestically this campaign.

But the Toffees will be looking at Dembélé’s 22-goal season last time out and feel confident that with the right service, the 26-year-old (who is five years Zapata’s junior) can hit those heights again, and potentially fire the Merseyside outfit to Premier League safety.

Therefore, since the Frenchman will be available at a cut-price fee this month coupled with his electric form from last season, it seems like the Lyon striker would be a smart transfer to make wrap up this month.

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