There has been much talk on Merseyside of the need for Everton to bring in a number of new signings before the end of the transfer window.
Top of the bill must surely be a centre-forward to replace Romelu Lukaku, while the uncertainty surrounding Ross Barkley's future makes a creative midfielder another priority. Both issues are high on Ronald Koeman's agenda and expected to be rectified before the start of the season, with Olivier Giroud and Glyfi Sigurdsson two names of real interest to the club's hierarchy.
However, a new priority has emerged following news of Ramiro Funes Mori's long-term injury. The Argentine centre-back has been ruled out for between 6-9 months with ankle damage, leaving the Blues perilously short on the left-side of defence ahead of the new season. With the former River Plate defender set to miss most- if not all- of the campaign and versatile youngster Brendan Galloway recently allowed to join Sunderland on loan, the Blues now lack a natural left-footer on the left of the central defensive partnership.
After signing for a figure of around £25m from Burnley, it is to be assumed that Michael Keane will be a starter on the right of Koeman's new-look pairing. At the moment, it appears to be a straight battle between elder statesmen Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka for the other spot- assuming the Dutchman sticks with last year's 4-3-3 formation. For all their merits, neither Williams nor Jagielka are left-footed and while the former has played on the left of a back three for both Wales and Swansea City in the past, Everton's management team must surely be contemplating a further dip into the market for cover, if nothing else.
Providing they make it past Slovakian side MFK Ruzomberok in their upcoming qualifier, the Blues' Europa League participation means they'll almost certainly have to double up most weeks in the usual Thursday-Sunday pattern. Mason Holgate- more comfortable in a three than a two at present- may provide an additional option as the games come thick and fast, but it has been interesting to see more frequent links with a number of left-sided defenders of late.
Indeed, the reported pursuit of new Crystal Palace signing Jairo Riedewald hinted at a desire to find a player capable of not only playing centrally but also covering for first-choice left-back Leighton Baines.
The versatile Dutchman would certainly have done just that, yet Everton's move came too late and Riedewald was seemingly happy to reunite with Frank de Boer, who gave him his Eredivisie breakthrough, in any case. Following the sale of Bryan Oviedo to Sunderland in January, there is no senior understudy to Baines, either. Taking into account the need for both a new centre-half and additional left-back cover, such a player would be incredibly useful; killing two birds with one stone, so to speak.
Had Funes Mori's injury occured earlier in the window, another name in the frame would undoubtedly have been Koeman favourite Terence Kongolo - also equally at home at centre-back or left-back. While at Feyenoord, the ex-Southampton manager played a formative role in the Netherlands international's development and is believed to be a huge admirer of his former protégé's talent. As it happens though, Kongolo recently moved to Ligue 1 champions Monaco from Feyenoord, making a move to Goodison nigh-on impossible at this moment in time.
With both options off the table, Everton's scouting department, headed by director of football Steve Walsh must now scour the market for defensive reinforcements ahead of the August 12 Premier League opener at home to Stoke City.
Given the relative scarcity of top quality left-sided defenders, it remains a difficult task to find the perfect fit for Koeman's promising side. However, with no obvious solution from an otherwise well-stocked youth setup, Everton simply have no choice but to invest in a player of this ilk. If not, they run the risk of leaving a restructured defence chronically imbalanced ahead of the big kick-off.
