CRYSTAL PALACE want £15million for striker Jean-Philippe Mateta — a fee that put off Everton in a deadline swoop.
Mateta, 25, is not a regular Eagles starter but they still rate him highly and the Toffees failed when they asked for him only on loan.
GettyMateta has only managed one Premier League goal this season for Palace[/caption]
Boss Patrick Vieira is already running a small squad — and did not want to lose Mateta without finding a replacement.
Everton had been after Mateta a couple of times in the window and came on strong at the death as their frantic and doomed search for a striker went on.
But ultimately the Toffees became the only Premier League club to fail to make a single signing last month.
It was not only Mateta who was in the Everton crosshairs in the final days of the window.
The club made an ambitious late dash to sign Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher but were unsuccessful.
They even reportedly made a desperate attempt to sign AC Milan’s Olivier Giroud by were rebuffed by the former Arsenal striker.
Everton’s transfer misfortune even continued after the window shut as forward target Andre Ayew opted to move to Nottingham Forest on a free transfer.
It compounded a miserable January for the club which saw fans in open revolt, the manager sacked, Anthony Gordon depart and club chiefs advised not to attend games.
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But the mood was lifted yesterday as Sean Dyche engineered a stunning victory over league leaders Arsenal to bring renewed hope to the blue half of Merseyside.
James Tarkowski’s header was enough to land Everton their first league win since October and stun Mikel Areta’s misfiring Gunners.