Around this time last January saw Everton endure a desperate last-gasp attempt to bring simply anyone in.
Sean Dyche had only been chosen to replace Frank Lampard late on, and so he had to act quickly if he was to bolster a squad that had previously seemed destined for the drop.
It seems that, despite the clear progress made under this new leadership, very little has changed in terms of their Premier League position across the last 12 months.
Naturally, a ten-point deduction will do that to a team.
Whilst the Toffees should have enough to stay afloat this campaign without any new additions, Kevin Thelwell will not really want to take that risk, especially with Luton Town breathing down their necks.
It is likely this pressure which is resulting in another late push for seemingly anyone to provide an extra body.
Unsurprisingly, given how unappealing a prospect Everton is at the moment, there are few keen on making the switch to Goodison Park.
This was no better exemplified than in Benfica’s Fiorentino Luis, who swiftly shut down any rumours of a move through Fabrizio Romano.
Now, moving to Italy, journalist Ed Aarons is the latest to deliver a gutting blow.
He would take to X to issue an update on Tim Weah’s future, who only joined Juventus in the summer for a mere £10m.
The 23-year-old was clearly not impressed with the offer made by Dyche and Thelwell, as this reporter wrote: ‘Timothy Weah has rejected a potential loan move to Everton from Juventus’.
It really feels like the main thing Everton’s attack is missing is a bit of pace to trouble defenders.
After all, for all the quality that the likes of Dwight McNeil, Jack Harrison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin possess, neither have that frightening speed to leave the opposition in their wake.
Weah would certainly inject that for Dyche, as a forward-thinking asset more than capable of starring on the left flank or up front.
This shared creativity and goal threat could even have made him a fine replacement for Abdoulaye Doucoure while he desperately pushes for a return.
Although that has seldom been shown in this campaign, it is worth noting that the USA international has often been deployed in an unfamiliar right-wing back role throughout this campaign in Turin.
Meanwhile, last season saw him forced even further back for LOSC Lille, featuring at left and right back too.
A versatile asset with pace and power in abundance, perhaps his introduction would have proven pivotal in boosting numerous positions in one fell swoop.
