Everton Target Orri Oskarsson: January Striker Swoop Eyed by Moyes

Everton target Real Sociedad striker Orri Oskarsson to fix striking shortage in January

Everton are tracking Real Sociedad striker Orri Oskarsson as manager David Moyes looks to solve his side’s chronic shortage of forwards in the January transfer window, according to TEAMtalk. The 22-year-old Iceland international has impressed in LaLiga and is also on the radar of several Premier League rivals.

Player: Orri Oskarsson, 22, Iceland international
Current club: Real Sociedad (joined from FC Copenhagen in 2024)
Interested club: Everton, managed by David Moyes
Also tracking: Tottenham, Newcastle, Sunderland, Brentford
Everton’s need: Only recognised striker Thierno Barry after Beto’s summer exit to Fiorentina
Oskarsson’s numbers: 9 LaLiga goals last season, Copa del Rey winner; 3 goals in 8 league games this term; 5 goals in 6 caps for Iceland this year

Deal details

No fee has been reported. Everton’s interest is at the scouting and consideration stage, with TEAMtalk reporting that the Toffees are “tracking” Oskarsson as they weigh a winter move. Real Sociedad have not commented on the speculation.

Oskarsson joined Real Sociedad from FC Copenhagen in 2024 and has since built a strong reputation in Spain. Last season he scored nine LaLiga goals and won the Copa del Rey, while this campaign has brought three goals in eight league appearances.

Why Everton need a striker

Everton’s need is obvious and urgent. They allowed Beto to leave for Fiorentina in the summer and never replaced him. A move for Folarin Balogun fell apart, and a late effort to land Joshua Zirkzee also failed. The result is a squad alarmingly short up front, with Thierno Barry left as the club’s only recognised striker.

That is not a sustainable way to navigate a long Premier League season, and Moyes knows it. January reinforcements are a priority.

Why Oskarsson fits the bill

At 6ft1in, Oskarsson gives defenders a physical problem, yet his game carries the technical calm required to thrive in a demanding league. He leads the line, has composure in front of goal and an upward curve that is hard to ignore.

His impact for Iceland – five goals in six appearances this year – adds to the sense that Everton would be buying momentum as well as potential. Moyes has always valued forwards who can occupy centre-halves, compete relentlessly and bring others into play, and Oskarsson appears to fit much of that brief.

Premier League competition could complicate Everton’s pursuit

Everton are not operating alone. TEAMtalk reports that Tottenham, Newcastle, Sunderland and Brentford have all checked on Oskarsson’s progress. Competition has a way of pushing prices up and patience down, and Everton know better than most how a transfer window can unravel when alternatives start disappearing.

Analysis: A smart signing, not a marquee one, but exactly what Everton need

Everton do not need another window full of noise, half-plans and near-misses. They need a striker. A proper one. Someone who can take the weight off Thierno Barry and give the side a focal point when the game turns scrappy, tense and unforgiving. Oskarsson sounds like a forward with real substance: producing in LaLiga, scoring for his country, and possessing the blend of physicality and calm that can carry over well to English football.

The risk with any player stepping into the Premier League is real, but Everton cannot afford to stand still because of fear. The squad needs more threat, more depth and more belief in the box. Too often the build-up has led nowhere because there has not been enough quality or support through the middle. If Moyes sees Oskarsson as the answer, the club should back him.

January is not a month for hesitation when a clear weakness has already been exposed. Everton have a chance to fix a problem that should have been solved in the summer. This time, they have to get it right.

Talking points

Should Everton pay over the odds in January to beat Tottenham and Newcastle to Oskarsson, or wait until summer when prices may be lower?
Is Thierno Barry being let down by the club’s failure to sign another striker in the summer, and does Oskarsson’s arrival risk stunting his development?
Would Oskarsson’s physical profile translate immediately to the Premier League, or is LaLiga’s pace and intensity too different?
With Beto, Balogun and Zirkzee all missed, is Everton’s recruitment team under more pressure than Moyes to get this deal done?

What happens next

Everton will continue to monitor Oskarsson’s performances for Real Sociedad and Iceland as they decide whether to formalise their interest when the January window opens. The club’s need is urgent, and competition from Tottenham, Newcastle, Sunderland and Brentford means any pursuit may become complicated quickly.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Orri Oskarsson and which club does he play for?

Orri Oskarsson is a 22-year-old Iceland international striker who joined Real Sociedad from FC Copenhagen in 2024. He scored nine LaLiga goals last season and won the Copa del Rey.

Are Everton signing Orri Oskarsson in January?

Everton are reported to be tracking Oskarsson as they weigh a winter move, according to TEAMtalk. No bid has been made and no fee has been reported.

Which other clubs are interested in Orri Oskarsson?

Tottenham, Newcastle, Sunderland and Brentford have all checked on his progress, according to TEAMtalk, meaning Everton could face competition for his signature.