Everton comfortably beat Southampton 3-0 in the Premier League on Monday to start the New Year with victory.

Ronald Koeman’s men could only manage a 2-2 draw at Hull in their final game of 2016, but soon got back to winning ways thanks to goals from Enner Valencia, Leighton Baines, and Romelu Lukaku.

It means that the Toffees have now won three of their last five league matches, having won just one of the preceding ten, and sit seventh in the table after 20 games of the campaign.

Koeman’s side have won eight of those 20 games, including four of their first five at the start of the season, yet recent displays and results suggest that they are beginning to get back to their best after a frustrating October and November.

Nonetheless, the Toffees are nine points behind sixth place Manchester United and, if they want to challenge for the European places, they will need some reinforcements in the January transfer window.

Thus, here are TWO players that will make Everton’s season should they sign at Goodison Park this month…

Morgan Schneiderlin

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Everton have had a bid rejected for Manchester United’s Morgan Schneiderlin, and but it’s a deal Koeman should try very hard to get done over the coming weeks.

The French international has made just three substitute appearances in the Premier League for United this season, despite being a key part of Louis van Gaal’s starting eleven last season.

Consequently, interest has been growing as sides hope to secure the 27-year-old’s services, especially given that he did well for United last season, and of course was excellent when at Southampton before then.

With Gareth Barry turning 36 in February and Idrissa Gueye on African Cup of Nations duty, Everton’s midfield area needs strengthening, and Schneiderlin would certainly do just that.

Virgil van Dijk

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Everton were linked with a move for Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk earlier in the season, and it’s not difficult to see why.

Excluding his red card against West Brom last weekend, the Dutch international has been one of the best defenders in the Premier League this season, and has all the qualities to become a top-quality modern-day centre-back.

Koeman brought van Dijk to the top-flight back in 2015 when he in charge at St Mary’s, and he’ll hope that his good working relationship with the 25-year-old could persuade him to join the Toffees.

However, Everton will likely face competition from Manchester City and Chelsea to secure van Dijk’s signature, yet it would certainly be money worth spending given his quality, and indeed Everton’s struggles defensively this season.