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Everton probably didn’t need another reminder of how their summer striker search ended. Ermedin Demirovic has provided one anyway. The Stuttgart striker scored a Champions League hat-trick against Viking on Wednesday night, with all three goals arriving in the space of just 12 first-half minutes. TEAMtalk transfer insider Graeme Bailey has since reported that Everton made enquiries for Demirovic during the summer, only to be knocked back by Stuttgart. According to the report, the Bosnia and Herzegovina international was one of four strikers David Moyes wanted but was unable to land. Everton’s summer problem hasn’t disappeared There is always a danger in looking back at players Everton missed and wondering what might have been. Demirović scoring three goals in Europe doesn’t mean he would have done the same at the Hill Dickinson. But the timing is hard to ignore. Everton spent the closing stages of the window trying desperately to add another striker. Beto left for Fiorentina, the proposed deal for Folarin Balogun collapsed and the deadline passed without the additional No.9 Moyes wanted. Demirovic, 28, can now seemingly be added to the list of forwards Everton explored without getting a deal done. Perhaps there was little they could do once Stuttgart decided they did not want to sell. Identifying the right players was only half of Everton’s problem during the summer. They had targets. They made enquiries. They negotiated. But the window still closed without another striker. For up-to-date Everton news and all the latest from across the Premier League throughout the season, follow our LIVE! Premier League 2026/27 News, Transfers, Updates & Viral Moments page.