The wheels have started to come off at Everton after an impressive unbeaten start to the season, as transfer window failings begin to catch up with the Premier League side.

David Moyes' side went into the international break yet to be beaten this season but tricky clashes against Chelsea and Arsenal have since undone that record.

The Toffees haven't looked bad in those matches, but do appear to be lacking options after a summer of disappointing investment. Above all, a new striker must be a priority in January, and QPR bagsman Richard Kone should be on the scouting list.

Everton lack attacking options against Arsenal

Everton allowed both Iliman Ndiaye and Beto to leave the Hill Dickinson Stadium late in the window and, after a move for AS Monaco man Folarin Balogun collapsed, failed to replace that loss of talent. Thierno Barry has done a noble job in shouldering the goalscoring burden, with six goals across all competitions this term, but only three of those have come in the Premier League.

Barry battled well with Gabriel on Saturday afternoon but, despite the tussle, was easily kept quiet by the Brazilian. Everton needed to be able to throw something different at the Gunners.

Speaking about the Everton attacking options, pundit Steph Houghton said on Match of the Day: "That lack of extra striker to support Barry up front, I think for David Moyes to be able to change the team, it's hard.

"That strength in depth at this moment of time is lacking for Everton."

Richard Kone scores record-breaking hat-trick

At the same time that Everton were struggling to find the net at the Emirates Stadium, just across the capital a Championship striker was breaking records. QPR star Richard Kone netted a 15-minute hat-trick against Swansea City in a 5-0 romp - the quickest in English history since records began.

The Toffees must bring in a striker in January, but landing a proven Premier League marksman will be hard. Rivals and top clubs in Europe will be all too aware of Everton's plight, and keen to hold them to ransom.

Taking shopping to the Championship, where second tier clubs may not be able to baulk at a respectable offer, seems the way to go. Between now and January, Toffees scouts should scour the league.

They need not look very far with performances such as Kone's. The 23-year-old arrived at QPR from Wycombe Wanderers in August 2025, having plundered 18 goals in League One the season prior.

It's been a respectable adjustment to Championship life since then. Kone is a player who boasts an impressive physicality and a neat eye to goal.

The striker netted 10 in the division last season. This term, Kone had not scored prior to this weekend, but had only been afforded two Championship starts.

Everton should scout QPR bagsman

Speaking after the match, R's head coach Julien Stephan said: "During the week, with the quality of the week (in training) he had, we felt it was the right moment for him to deliver this kind of performance.

“In my dream, I probably couldn’t have imagined a performance like this, with three goals, but he did everything during the week to prepare for this game in the best way.”

It would be outlandish to suggest that Everton should move for Kone off the back of one hat-trick, but the 23-year-old is certainly worth scouting - when coming through at Wycombe Wanderers, former manager Matt Bloomfield said that the player has 'goals in his feet'.

The striker has found goals in every division that he has played in, and needed little time to settle. When playing well, Kone is a natural goalscorer.

Kone could also slot into Moyes' Everton system easily. His physicality and acceleration make for a player of a similar profile to that of Barry, while also offering something different - where Barry is better aerially, Kone's movement is perhaps more dynamic.