Everton Transfer Scenarios: Under-the-Radar Signings That Could Lift Toffees

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Everton is a club that have to pull off miracles every summer to retain their best players and sign new ones, but David Moyes somehow makes it work.

Perennially given a paltry transfer budget, the Scot must always be creative with his signings to pick up on talent that others miss and wring the most value out of each purchase.

There are virtually no marquee names heading to Goodison Park nowadays; instead, players you wouldn't have thought of step up and play above their transfer value.

Here are a few of the surprising moves that Everton might make.

Hugo Rodallega

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Despite his consistency for Wigan over multiple seasons, Hugo Rodallega often gets overlooked because he plays for such a small club.

However, the Colombian has showed that he is a quality contributor to any Premier League squad over the course of a whole grueling season.

Rodallega was crucial in the Latics' late-season revival that allowed them to stay in the top flight, and wouldn't force David Moyes to break the bank.

Grant Holt

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If Everton are looking for the stereotypical "English striker," they can look no further than Norwich's Grant Holt, who had a massive impact in the Premier League upon his side's promotion last season.

Other than the prolific Nikica Jelavic, Everton do not have much firepower up front, and could use another striker that is willing to simply will his way to goals in the most physical league on the planet.

In the 31-year-old Holt, they would also get the sort of renowned, no-nonense leader that is often undervalued in a team. Norwich, though, might be reluctant to sell the most influential player in their team last term.

Clint Dempsey

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Clint Dempsey is at the higher end of Everton's price range, but a player of the American's many talents is probably worth a little financial hit.

Wherever David Moyes decides to play him, Dempsey will produce. He flourished on both wings, in midfield and as a striker for Fulham last season, finishing near the top of the Premier League scoring charts.

What might be most attractive to the natural winger is the fact that Goodison Park has been a little slice of America recently, with Tim Howard still a staple in goal and Landon Donovan possibly arriving in the winter.

It might not be the Champions League move that Dempsey wants, but it might be the best he'll get.

Oscar Cardozo

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Despite years of consistently impressive performances in the Portuguese Liga, Cardozo has never made the move abroad.

With Everton in need of quality strikers, the time is now for the Paraguayan to make his move—if he ever wants to—as he will get a great deal of playing time at Goodison Park.

For a team that needs another striker, bringing in a poacher who netted 20 times in just 29 appearances for Benfica last season would not be too bad an option.

He would not transfer for peanuts, but the price should not be too extravagant for a cash-strapped club like the Toffees.

Steven Pienaar

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Still a fan favorite in the blue half of Merseyside, Everton supporters welcomed Steven Pienaar back when loaned by Tottenham for the second half of the season.

The club should now make their fans even happier by bringing the South African back aboard on a permanent basis to contribute to a side that actually needs him.

Since joining Spurs for a small fee, Pienaar has only made 10 Premier League appearances and wasted away on the bench and in the reserves before roaring back to make an impact at his old club.

On his day, he can be a dynamic force on the wing and his creativity is refreshing in a side that can lack a cutting edge going forward.

For a player that is clearly on the way out at his current club, that ultimate hurdle (price) appears to have been cleared.

 

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