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If there’s one vehement critic of the transfer window, it’s Roberto Martinez.

The Everton boss has been consistently outspoken in his view no dealings should be allowed once the new Premier League season is underway.

“It is not healthy for anyone, it is not fair to the players because the human side of the player gets exposed completely,” he says.

“It is not right for the fans who pay huge, hard earned money to watch the games and going into cup competitions with all the talk about players being disturbed and, if anything, not allowed to concentrate on what they are going to do on the football pitch.”

It’s no surprise, then, to discover Martinez similarly dismissive of the January transfer window.

“You never get value for money, first and foremost, and you will not get players you have been following for a long time,” said the Catalan.

“And if you want to rely on January to find solutions for your season then it is a big gamble. But we will carry on working.”

Football managers, though, base their careers on gambles. On taking a punt. On the feeling in their bones. On following hunches.

Everton would benefit from reinforcements in January. So who should be on their wishlist?

Keeping the faith?

The debate over whether Joel Robles should replace Tim Howard between the sticks permanently has been raging among Blues fans for some time.

Martinez, though, insists there is no question: Howard is his undisputed number one.

What’s also beyond dispute, however, is the United States international cannot go on forever – while there’s an inkling Martinez may not have total confidence in his deputy.

It makes a goalkeeper a possible target in the New Year.

One shot-stopper the Blues were linked with in the summer was Fabricio Agosto Ramirez – Fabri as he is better known – who has fallen out of favour at Deportivo La Coruna.

Victor Valdes is expected to leave Manchester United in the New Year and could be tempted, while Michel Vorm hasn’t seen much action since joining Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2014.

Right-back to the future

Given Tony Hibbert is very much on the fringes when fit, Everton don’t have much backup for Seamus Coleman at right-back.

Their impressive record at plucking players from the Championship could provide encouragement, however.

Not least with much-vaunted Leeds United 22-year-old Sam Byram out of contract at the end of the season and showing apparently little sign of penning a new deal.

“Sam Byram is the only one that maybe thinks Leeds is too small for him,” said controversial Leeds owner Massimo Cellino in September.

“He maybe thinks he deserves to be in a bigger team and a bigger club, and maybe he’s right. But when I hear that a player from Leeds, with his agent, that he thinks that Leeds is not big enough for him, that he wants something bigger, I felt really embarrassed.”

Back pains need addressing

Phil Jagielka’s injury has underlined that, despite the arrival of Ramiro Funes Mori, Everton are still short in central defence.

Hence links with an interest in Burnley’s former Manchester United defender Michael Keane , the 22-year-old having impressed since moving to Turf Moor, initially on a loan deal, at the start of last season.

(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

Werder Bremen’s 23-year-old centre-back Jannick Vestergaard is another name that has been thrown into the pot, although things didn’t go so well for Per Kroldrup, the last Danish defender to move to Goodison.

Middle march

Martinez made no secret during the summer of the fact he wanted to bring a playmaker to the club.

There was also little disguising the identity of his main target.

A deal for Dynamo Kiev’s Ukraine international Andriy Yarmolenko wasn’t quite possible but, with all the noises from his club suggesting he would welcome a move to the Premier League, there’s every chance the Blues could again go in for the 26-year-old.

“I talked to Roberto Martinez. He’s a great man,” said Yarmolenko’s agent Vadim Shabliy last month.

Asked if negotiations took place with Everton, he added: “Of course. But I will not say much on this subject.”

Thanks, Vadim.

Everton scouts are said to have watched Anderlecht youngster Youri Tielemans , an 18-year-old midfielder who has impressed since making his Champions League debut aged just 16 years and 148 days.

At the other end of the experience scale, there’s a former Blue who isn’t seeing much action of late.

A move for Arsenal club skipper Mikel Arteta , then, may seem a little leftfield, but there is some sense to it. Not least as he would provide a welcome boost to everyone in the club.

Also linked recently has been Emploli’s Riccardo Saponara , with the 23-year-old said to be available for £10million.

Striking concern

For much of the last transfer window, Martinez was insistent he was not interested in buying a striker.

Then, as deadline day approached, he swooped for young Uruguayan forward Leandro Rodriguez.

He’s one for the future. Martinez, though, may look to bolster his ranks with more senior arrivals.

And among those likely to be available is Queens Park Rangers forward Charlie Austin , currently plying his trade in the Championship

“If something comes up in January that’s right for myself and my family then I’ll assess the situation with my agent then,” said Austin last week, dropping a pretty loud hint.

“However, if not, I will be happy to stay with QPR and play in any position they ask me to play.”

Everton scouts are said to have been tracking Sochaux forward Karl Toko Ekambi , who’d be available for £2million and wouldn’t require a work permit.

One snag would be the 22-year-old Cameroonian’s lack of experience – he’s never played top-flight football and has only one international cap.

Martinez’s Spanish connections have seen him linked with several players from his homeland.

Most, though, appear not to fit the immediate bill, from Athletic Bilbao’s Inaki Williams (too expensive) and Sevilla outcast Juan Munoz Munoz (too young).