Everton manager David Moyes admits he could consider selling Steven Pienaar during the January transfer window.
South Africa international Pienaar is out of contract at the end of the season and, with a new contract yet to be agreed, is looking increasingly likely to leave Goodison Park.
Moyes is keen to hold on to the midfielder but has now revealed he could sacrifice the 28-year-old in order to generate funds to strengthen other areas of his squad.
The Toffees boss said: “It may well come to it in the January transfer window that we have to consider selling Pienaar to raise money, because he is out of contract in the summer.
“But we know we need a striker, and realistically, the sort of money we will raise through that route, what type of player is it going to buy for us in the January market.
“The sort of money I'd raise, I don't think it will attract the type of player we need, the type of player we are looking for to provide the goals.
“The sort of money it will cost, I don't think selling a player will solve that particular problem, and it is probably a reality that we will have to look at bringing in a loan player, that it will be the loan market we will need to look at to provide some sort of solution.”