Sam Allardyce after maximum of three new players in January

Sam Allardyce has revealed that he could bring in as many as three new faces during the winter transfer window to sustain Everton's push for a top-eight finish.

The Toffees have climbed up the division since the former England boss arrived exactly one month ago, collecting 15 points from a possible 21 in that time to move into ninth place.

January provides Allardyce with a chance to further bolster his squad, which he intends to make the most of by recruiting a maximum of three new players, with a full-back and forward reportedly among those being targeted.

"I think if the players were available then three [signings] would be the maximum," he told reporters. "That would give us a chance to sustain our position and maybe touch on doing better than where we are.

"I think if we established ourselves in eighth or ninth then we've done a brilliant job this year, coming back from the starting position.

"Coming to the end of January we'll have a better idea of where we are. One with the squad in total - have I moved any on or is it feasible to move any on - and two, being what the consistency of the squad is."

Besiktas ace Cenk Tosun is understood to be Everton's top target, the Merseyside outfit having sent a delegation to Turkey on Friday in the hope of finalising a deal.