Transfer Centre

Roberto Martinez not looking for Samuel Eto'o replacement

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 28 January 2015

Everton manager Roberto Martinez insists that the solution to replacing Samuel Eto'o lies in his current squad rather than entering the January transfer market.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that he does not need to enter the transfer market this month to replace Samuel Eto'o.

Eto'o left Goodison Park to join Italian side Sampdoria earlier this week, having scored four goals in 20 appearances for the Toffees after joining in the summer.

Martinez feels that players returning from injury means that he has enough options within the squad to cope without signing a new striker before Monday's deadline.

He told the club's official website: "January is not the place to find solutions. Our moment of form, we want to change, but the solutions are in the squad.

"With Arouna Kone being fully fit, I see him as a replacement for Samuel's position and it is more about trying to get the players back from injury.

"Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman have been two players missing throughout the season, which has been disappointing because they are important in the way we want to play. Leon played in every single game last season and we miss what he brings. So I am looking around that."

Everton have failed to win any of their last eight Premier League matches and are 12th in the table.