- Everton need more goals and quality in the final third.
- West Ham striker offers intensity, movement and Premier League experience.
- Any transfer would be difficult, but profile suits Moyes’ plans.
Everton have been credited with an interest in Taty Castellanos in recent weeks, although there has been little to suggest a move is actively being pursued.
That is hardly surprising given the striker only arrived at West Ham in January. The Hammers are expected to build around several of their key players following relegation, and Castellanos is likely to be seen as one of them.
Still, if Everton are looking for attacking reinforcements this summer, the Argentine is exactly the sort of player they should be considering.
At 27, Castellanos is entering the prime years and already has experience in Spain, Italy and England. More importantly, his style of play appears tailor-made for many of the qualities David Moyes values in a centre-forward.
| Club | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universidad de Chile | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Montevideo City Torque | 30 | 5 | 3 |
| New York City FC | 134 | 59 | 24 |
| Girona | 37 | 14 | 1 |
| Lazio | 98 | 22 | 16 |
| West Ham United* | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| Career Total | 310 | 103 | 44 |
The all-action striker Everton could build around
Castellanos is not a six-yard box sniffer.
His game is built on clever movement, aggression and hard work both with and without the ball. Defenders tend to hate playing against him because he never stops running, pressing or battling.
One of his good qualities is the way he leads the press. Castellanos is quick to close defenders down and is always looking to force mistakes high up the pitch. That often sets the tone and is the trigger for the rest of his team.
He is equally effective when pulling into wide areas or attacking the channels between centre-back and full-back. Rather than just working the width of the penalty area, he looks to stretch defensive lines and create openings for teammates.
That mobility could be particularly useful for Everton, who have at times struggled to break down organised defences and low blocks, especially at the Hill Dickinson.
Despite standing at around 5ft 10in, Castellanos is still very combative in the air, and welcomes physical battles, protects the ball well and is capable of occupying centre-backs.
The bottom line is that he is a striker who can serve as a focal point without relying solely on aerial dominance. He’s capable as a back-to-goal striker.
| Competition | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 15 | 4 |
| Serie A | 75 | 16 |
| La Liga | 35 | 13 |
| MLS | 109 | 49 |
| Top-flight total | 234 | 82 |
Strengths outweigh concerns
Like any forward, Castellanos is not without flaws.
The most obvious one is that he has never developed into a truly elite-level goalscorer. While his numbers are decent, there have been periods throughout his career where his finishing has lacked consistency.
He tends to contribute across all phases of attacking play rather than simply focusing on goals, which can sometimes make his output appear lower than Evertonians might expect of a leading striker.
There is also the question of availability. Convincing West Ham to sell a player they signed only months ago would not be easy, particularly if they view him as a central figure in their promotion push.
Yet those strengths remain difficult to ignore.
Castellanos brings relentless energy, intelligent movement and Premier League experience. He can play as a lone striker, link play effectively and create opportunities for others.
Most importantly, he would give the Toffees a forward capable of influencing matches even when he is not contributing on the scoresheet.
That sort of contribution often goes unnoticed, but it is precisely what successful Premier League sides have plenty of.
Whether Everton’s reported interest develops into something more substantial remains to be seen.
For now, the links appear weak.
But if the club are searching for a forward who can raise the intensity of their attack while still offering a goal threat, Castellanos is a player who deserves consideration.
