Senior Everton striker transfer given positive forecast by Sky Sports journalist after Jack Harrison arrives from Leeds United

Alan Myers is “pretty sure” that Everton signing an experienced striker before the window closes “will happen” this summer.

The Sky Sports journalist responded via Twitter on 14 August after the club wrapped up a loan deal for Leeds United winger Jack Harrison, which could yet be made permanent, to a question about the next move being for a senior forward option and gave it a positive verdict.

The Toffees have already brought in 19-year-old Youssef Chermiti from Sporting but he has less than a full season’s experience in senior football and Sean Dyche has played down expectations of him [Times, 10 August].

Dominic Calvert-Lewin wasn’t even in the squad for the opening day defeat by Fulham on Saturday (12 August) as he is eased into action amid a miserable recent injury record, while Neal Maupay’s struggles in front of goal since arriving from Brighton continued.

With wide men Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma named as the club’s key targets this summer the remaining weeks of the window appear set to focus on more forward help.

If Sean Dyche has someone who can finish chances in his side then there was enough elsewhere in the performance at Goodison on Saturday to suggest he can get results.

The Toffees created chances and had what looked like a perfectly good goal ruled out but still came away on the wrong end of a 1-0.

In an ideal world Calvert-Lewin returns sooner rather than later and stays fit for a sustained run of games, while Chermiti proves to be a natural in the Premier League and chips in for goals of his own.

But there hasn’t been a great deal over the past two years that has gone as smoothly as that for Everton, and with Maupay’s luck completely absent the need for a proven scorer has only increased after the opening day.

Dyche and Kevin Thelwell will have to be careful not to simply pull the trigger on the first option that comes available, with the former Brighton forward’s suitability in the systems of either Frank Lampard or the current manager apparently minimal, but landing someone who can decide tight games looks so important at this stage.

There are fine margins in the Premier League and twice the club have barely fallen on the right side of them, but improving a scoring record that was the division’s second-worst last term should imcrease the chances of avoiding another relegation battle significantly.