Louis Saha Urges Everton To Sign Grealish And Says Barry Needs To Step Up

Louis Saha has urged Everton to sign Jack Grealish on a permanent basis, but believes regular European football cannot be achieved without a top-class striker.

Grealish joined the Merseysiders on a season-long loan from Manchester City in the summer in a bid to revitalise his career and England ambitions.

The former Aston Villa winger has scored two goals for the Toffees this season, but only Bruno Fernandes and Rayan Cherki have provided more assists than Grealish's eight.

Former France striker Saha, speaking exclusively to casino comparison site Gambling.com, believes Everton should pull out the stops to sign Grealish and also ensure fellow winger Iliman Ndiaye stays at the club.

Saha, who scored 27 Premier League goals in four seasons with Everton, said of Grealish: "I think he is a type of player that has shown he really enjoys his game now. 

"He had a different kind of freedom under Pep Guardiola, that's for sure. And there was pressure, but maybe now he really has the kind of focus that he needs. 

"He was the Aston Villa star and he was amazing and it could be the same for Everton where I see a good combination on both sides at Everton with Ndiaye. It's a very impressive combination there. I really like that. 

"And yes, if Everton want to improve, they really need those two players to be at the club next year."

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Saha believes Everton keep making the same mistakes when it comes to signing strikers.

Thierno Barry, 23, failed to score in his first 14 Premier League matches, although he has since added four goals in his eight outings.

Beto, meanwhile, has found the net just twice this season.

As strong as the Toffees are in wide areas, Saha thinks the squad lacks teeth up front.

He said: "Grealish has come and you have Ndiaye on the other side who are very strong. They are now creating a bit more which is good, but they need a clinical player at the top. And that's not the case at the moment. 

"This is why they can't finish in sixth, seventh or eighth because they are not clinical enough. And this is why I think teams who have a strong defence but don't have a clinical player up front will end up in the middle of the table.

"That's basically it, because the games are very tight in the Premier League. The details are very small, like one inch here or one inch there, and you lose a game. And that's what has happened to Everton.

"Barry, in that sense, needs to improve his positioning. He's still a young player. His finishing, obviously, is very important.

"In the same way, he needs to be able to read the game, sense blood when the defenders are struggling. I don't think he senses that. So he goes into contact when he needs to go on the shoulder. Stuff like this is just because he is young. 

"And it's a bit similar situation with {Benjamin} Sesko and Barry. Asking a player that young to understand all those little parameters is extremely demanding. So for me, there have been a few mistakes.

"Dominic Calvert-Lewin left and maybe didn't have that as well, so it’s a bit difficult. The main focus needs to be very consistent because they have struggled for the last three years and I think it's good to see them in that position and they will solve this year by year, I would say."

Everton host improving Leeds in the Premier League tonight and Saha is expecting a tight encounter in the absence of Grealish, who is out for several weeks with a stress fracture in his foot.

Saha said: "It’s going to be tough for Everton with Grealish being injured, so I think that is going to be a draw there."