Paul Merson believes Everton should have spent £40m on Olivier Giroud.

Giroud was close to joining the Toffees this summer and Everton have struggled for goals so far this season. Despite being one of the Premier League’s biggest spending clubs last summer, they failed to adequately replace Romelu Lukaku.

Merson feels that they should have spent big to prise Giroud away from Arsenal, as he would easily score 15 goals for them.

“One you wouldn’t have been able to do that, but you had to have a go,” Merson said, as reported by The Daily Express.

“Even if you ring up Arsenal and say here’s £35-40million for Giroud. It might be a couple of quid overprice, but he would get you 15 goals. 

“It’s a nice tight pitch at Goodison Park, he’d have played inside the lines, wouldn’t have had to run the channels – and you’ve got people like Sigurdsson who can put the ball on a sixpence at setplays. 

“I don’t see how he wouldn’t have got 15 goals. But to go with Sandro and the other lad (Vlasic) – would they get 15 between them this season?”

Giroud was a big target for Everton and Arsenal seemed willing to let him go, but the 30-year-old decided to stay at Arsenal. A larger transfer fee wouldn’t have made much of a difference as it was the player, not the club, who stopped the move happening.

Despite currently being a bench player for Arsenal, Giroud was happy to stay and fight for his place although there were rumours that it was his wife’s reluctance to move more than the player’s that ended the deal.

The impact he can have from the bench was proven once again when he came on to head in the winner against Leicester at the start of the season.

He probably would have done well at Everton, but a lot of Arsenal fans are happy that he chose to stay at the club.

The situation might be different by the time the January transfer window opens. In which case, Everton are welcome to bid £40m if they want.