Everton’s fine run of form continued last weekend as they saw-off Bournemouth 6-3 in a thrilling contest at Goodison Park.

Ronald Koeman’s side propelled themselves into a 3-0 lead at half-time thanks to a brace from Romelu Lukaku, and a first goal of the season from midfielder James McCarthy.

However, Eddie Howe’s men hit back through a Josh King double to make it 3-2, but all hopes of a Cherries comeback was over when Lukaku netted twice in two minutes, before goals from Harry Arter of Bournemouth and Ross Barkley of the hosts capped off an unbelievable afternoon on Merseyside.

It means that Koeman’s men remain seventh in the table and just five points behind Manchester United in sixth, so it’s not completely out of the question that the Toffees could finish in the European places this season.

Koeman was one of a few Premier League bosses busy in January, with the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin and Ademola Lookman coming into the club, while Darron Gibson and Bryan Oviedo were the notable departures.

However, there may have been a few others hoping for a move last month, so here are TWO players that really should have left Everton in January…

Arouna Kone

33-year-old striker Arouna Kone has yet to start a game for Everton this season, and Romelu Lukaku’s fine run of form means he’s unlikely to anytime soon.

The former Ivorian international moved to Goodison Park to team up with former Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, where they both shared success, but it hasn’t worked for the forward on Merseyside, and it’s unlikely to while Lukaku is still at the club.

Kone has scored just six goals in 45 Premier League appearances for the Toffees, and with just six substitute appearances this term, it’s clear that he’s not in Koeman’s plans.

There was Championship interest in the striker, but no deal was done, so he’ll have to try and force his way into Koeman’s thinking at Everton.

Phil Jagielka

It’s not a coincidence that Everton’s upturn in form since late-2016 has concurred with Phil Jagielka’s omission from the first team.

The Toffees struggled defensively for much of the first half of the campaign, despite signing Ashley Williams from Swansea in the summer, but since England international Jagielka was dropped and Koeman changed the system, they’ve been much better.

34-year-old Jagielka has played just one minute of action in 2017, with it looking likely that his decade-long spell at Goodison Park is coming to an end.

There were reports that former boss David Moyes was interested in bringing him to Sunderland, which could have been a great move for both parties, as Jagielka would get regular first team football, and the Black Cats would get an experienced defender with a wealth of Premier League know-how.

However, it wasn’t to be, and Jagielka will have to make-do with a substitute’s role at Everton for the rest of the campaign.