Everton eye former striker as David Moyes' first January signing

David Moyes was given a sharp reminder of Everton's dire situation as his return to Goodison Park saw the Toffees lose 1-0 to Aston Villa.

Moyes accepted the club's offer to return to Merseyside following the sacking of Sean Dyche earlier this month and the veteran boss has a battle on his hands to keep them in the Premier League for next season.

Dyche successfully kept Everton's unbroken EPL streak alive in 2023 and 2024 with the latter campaign featuring a points deduction.

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Moyes has signed a two and a half year deal at Everton, but his immediate priority is securing Premier League survival, ahead the club's move from Goodison Park to Bramley Moore Dock this summer.

Failure to bring Premier League football to the new ground would be a disaster for Moyes and the Scottish boss has indicated he will look to bring in new players this month.

Following the defeat to Villa, Moyes highlighted his intention to address a 'lack of quality that will give us opportunities to make and score more goals' in the coming days.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin was particularly guilty of missing big chances against Unai Emery's visitors with the England international only managing two Premier League goals so far in 2024/25.

Calvert-Lewin's lack of output is a major concern for Everton fans, with his contract also expiring at the end of the season and reports from the Daily Mail indicate Moyes could bring Tom Cannon back to the club from Leicester City as a quick fix.

Tom Cannon's Leicester City contract, transfer fee, stats

Cannon was developed through Everton's youth ranks, after joining the club in 2012, but he made just three EPL appearances across the tenures of Frank Lampard and Dyche.

After returning from a loan spell at EFL Championship side Preston North End ahead of the 2023/24 season, Dyche informed him of Leicester's offer, and his lack of prominence in his plans.

Despite high expectations over the 22-year-old grasping the challenge of EPL action with the Foxes this season, former Leicester boss Steve Cooper loaned him to Stoke City, where he has netted nine league goals.

However, in a key twist to the saga, Ruud van Nistelrooy has now cut short his loan - but the Dutchman's intentions are unclear - with Leicester also in the relegation battle.

The report also claims Championship trio Burnley, Sheffield United and Sunderland are interested in a £10m ($12m), but Cannon wants another shot at the top-flight.

Everton do not have a buy-back clause on Cannon, but they have a greater pull factor, with Moyes confident of dragging them away from the bottom three this season.

Doubts over Cannon's ability to score goals in the Premier League will be a concern, but with Everton the second-lowest scorers in the EPL this season (15 from 20 games), Moyes needs a solution.

Goals have been a constant issue for Everton in recent years, with Richarlison the only player to score 10+ league goals since 2021/22, and loan signing Armando Broja could miss the remainder of the campaign through injury.