Everton Transfer Rumors: 5 Reasons Salomon Kalou Is an Ideal Fit for the Toffees

It has been another uneventful transfer window for Everton. The Toffees have been linked to strikers from across Europe, but haven't been able to close any deals. The past few days have brought rumors reporting Salomon Kalou could be leaving Chelsea due to its striker depth and Everton is one of two possible destinations.

Arthur Williams breaks down the details:

"

Toffees manager David Moyes is also fully briefed on Kalou's ability and, in addition, knows his strike force needs freshening up with the injury-prone Louis Saha now 32 years old. Jermaine Beckford has started to find his feet at Premier League level following last summer's switch from Leeds United but Moyes would like an established Premier League performer to line up alongside him.

However, he question remains whether cash-strapped Everton can find the £10m needed to sign the 25-year-old—never mind his wages—which leaves Aston Villa in the box seat with the cash from the Young sale currently burning a hole in their pocket.

"

Although Aston Villa is the favorite if Kalou does leave Chelsea, Everton can not afford to go through another summer without bringing in at least one striker. Time is running out for manager David Moyes and the chairman Bill Kenwright to make it known, to fans and players alike, that Everton plan on contending for a European spot this season.

Here is a list of five reasons that Kalou would be a great fit at Goodison Park.

Everton Is Extremely Weak Up Front

Everton averaged just 1.34 goals per game last season, which ranked 11th in the Premier League. Whether it be due to consistent injury problems, a lack of touch in the box or just a general lack of form, Everton strikers were among the least productive in the Premiership.

Jermaine Beckford scored eight goals in 32 games. Beckford struggled with shot accuracy, however, as he attempted 56 shots, yet just 23 of them were on net, a 41 percent success rate. At 27 years old, Beckford still has a chance to become a productive player for Everton, but needs to focus on forcing the opposing keeper to make saves.

Louis Saha, a 32-year-old, French national team member battled injuries last season. The biggest problem for Saha his entire career has been staying healthy. When fit to play, Saha scored seven goals in 14 games, showing off the talent that is too often relegated to the bench.

Adding Salomon Kalou to the picture as the left side striker would give manager David Moyes extra flexibility up front. Kalou would be a full-time starter while Beckford and Saha could split the other starts depending on their health and form.

Kalou Is a Tremendous Athlete

Salomon Kalou is a very lean 6'1'', 156 pounds. What he lacks in strength he makes up for in freakish athleticism. Although Jermaine Beckford and Louis Saha are both serviceable athletes for the striker position, Kalou would bring a whole new dimension to the Everton attack.

Kalou's main asset is his speed. Due to that advantage over most Premier League defenders, he becomes a deadly weapon on the counterattack, especially on balls played over the top. Even if he goes up against the rare defender who can match his pace, he has shown the ability to beat defenders in one-on-one situations.

Kalou also has good leaping ability, which makes up for his strength deficiencies in the box. The bottom line is Kalou can create his own offense, an aspect of the game the Toffees lack. Everton usually relies on a slow buildup and crosses into the box to create its offense, somebody who can make plays by themselves would be a game-changing addition.

Kalou Has Big-Game Experience

Salomon Kalou has spent the past five seasons playing for Chelsea. By playing for the Pensioners, he played in a bunch of important games in the heat of a title chase. In addition to his time with Chelsea, Kalou was also a member of the Ivory Coast's national team for the 2010 World Cup.

Two seasons ago, Everton finished in eighth place when the Europa League cutoff was seventh. They were within three points of sixth place Aston Villa and two points behind seventh place Liverpool. Last season, the Europa League limit was fifth place and Everton finished seventh, eight points off the pace.

The Toffees could obviously use somebody who can step up in the big moments. Kalou's finishing ability has been questioned, but that could be a product of his constant move in-and-out of the starting lineup. A consistent starting gig could be exactly what he needs to find his stride.

Kalou Is Entering His Prime

A player's prime. It is frequently talked about but rarely studied. A period of time, usually from ages 25 until the early 30s, when a player should be at the peak of their productivity. Salomon Kalou will be 26 in August and should be ready to enter this magical part of his career.

The numbers are definitely trending in the right direction for Kalou, who set his personal high for Premier League goals last season with 10. He also scored three goals in three FA Cup games. All signs point to Kalou's career continuing to trend upward.

This makes it the perfect time for Everton to acquire the talented striker. He remains lost in the shuffle with a striker-rich Chelsea squad. If Kalou remains with the Blues, his prime might get squandered. A move to Everton would allow him to play extensively and put his immense talents on display.

Kalou Knows How To Find the Back of the Net

The most obvious, but most important reason Salomon Kalou is a perfect fit for Everton: He scores goals. If Everton is serious about returning to European play, they need to acquire a most consistent striker that can pull out that point or three points when they need to.

Kalou has scored 55 goals and added 39 assists in 227 games across all competitions since joining Chelsea in 2006. Everton didn't have a single player reach double-digits in goals last season. Kalou, given the extra playing time, would be a virtual lock to break the double-digit barrier.

The amount of truth behind the Kalou rumors is up in the air, but if he is indeed available, Everton needs open the checkbook and make it happen. If they fail to bring in a dynamic striker before the start of the season, it will likely be another frustrating season for Toffees fans.