Everton offered Mauro Icardi as David Moyes considers solution to striker shortage

Everton have been offered the opportunity to sign Mauro Icardi as David Moyes considers whether to strengthen his attacking options following the closure of the summer transfer window.

The Toffees finished the window with Thierno Barry as their only senior recognised centre-forward after Beto joined Fiorentina and a late attempt to sign Folarin Balogun collapsed.

Barry has made an encouraging start, scoring on his Premier League debut before hitting a hat-trick against Preston North End in the League Cup. However, relying on him throughout an entire season would represent a significant gamble.

That has made the free-agent market particularly interesting for Everton.

Argentine journalist Germán García Grova reports that Icardi has now been offered to Everton.

The 33-year-old is available on a free transfer following the end of his spell in Turkey.

At this stage, there is no indication that Everton have opened negotiations or submitted a contract proposal. The striker has simply been presented to the club as a possible option.

Icardi's goalscoring record could make the opportunity tempting.

The former Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain striker scored 71 goals and provided 20 assists in 122 appearances for Galatasaray, including an outstanding 2023/24 campaign in which he registered 28 goals and ten assists across 42 matches.

Everton would therefore be considering a player with considerable experience and a proven record in front of goal.

The closed transfer window would not necessarily prevent Everton from signing Icardi.

As a free agent, the Argentine can potentially be registered outside the normal transfer window provided the relevant Premier League regulations and eligibility requirements are satisfied.

Everton also have space available.

Their post-window squad contains only 19 senior players, leaving them comfortably below the Premier League's maximum 25-man squad limit.

Interestingly, Icardi was also considered by Fiorentina during the summer alongside Beto. The Italian club ultimately chose Beto, contributing to Everton's current shortage, while Icardi has now been offered as a potential replacement.

The decision is therefore Moyes and Everton's to make.

Everton must now decide whether Icardi represents the right short-term solution to their lack of depth at centre-forward.

There is currently no indication that negotiations have started, so the situation remains at the proposal stage.

From a football perspective, Icardi would provide Moyes with an experienced alternative to Barry and reduce the risk of entering a long season with only one senior striker.

Everton would still need to consider his fitness, wage demands and registration requirements before progressing with a deal.

If Moyes decides another striker is essential, however, Icardi's free-agent status gives Everton an opportunity to address one of the most obvious weaknesses left by their summer transfer business.