With safety assured after the memorable night at Goodison against Crystal Palace, thoughts quickly turn to next season and the summer transfer market. The Everton squad as Frank Lampard has admitted is unbalanced. Lampard will have his ideas and profile of the players he needs / wants for the start of next season, and what in my opinion is a total rebuild of the squad.
Early signs are that Lampard seems to get on and have a good working relationship with the new Director of Football Kevin Thelwell. This relationship will be key this summer, especially with the club again not having any sort of transfer chest to speak of, unless a major sale of one of the blues real assets takes place. This being the case, Kevin Thelwell has one massive summer in front of him. In reality he is probably the most important piece of the jigsaw when it comes to rebuilding the squad. So what are the main areas for Thelwell and Lampard to concentrate on?
The Academy
The obvious start is the academy and changing the appalling lack of quality coming through the academy. Although obviously this is more of a long term project. Thelwell made it plain when he joined the blues that bringing through players from the academy for the first team, or to sell for profit would be a major area of his work. Things are starting to move on this front with the removal of the dead hand David Unsworth, and the splitting of the ridiculous dual role of academy head and Under 23s manager. What is encouraging is that these now two separate posts have not just been handed down to one of Blue Blood Bill’s mates, which litter the academy set up. Both posts have been advertised outside the club. A clear sign that the jobs for the boy’s culture at Everton may no longer be tolerated. It is to be hoped that two strong candidates are recruited who are not part of the current set up.
As the season drew to a close a number of players from the academy appeared on the first team bench. I certainly have hopes for midfielder Lewis Warrington (who spent the second half of the season impressing on loan at Tranmere Rovers), Centre Back Reece Welch and forward Lewis Dobbin. Lampard himself has talked up midfielder Isaac Price, who actually got on pitch for the final part of the awful defeat in the last game of the season at Arsenal. Hopefully the beginnings of a change of culture in the academy may be about to start, with more first team chances given to some of the more promising young players from the academy.
The Current Squad
One of Lampard’s and Thelwell’s priorities must be to make decisions on a number of the first team squad. Players such as Cenk Tosun (who is leaving), Jonjoe Kenny and the eternally injured Fabian Delph are all out of contract. None of these players are good enough for the club going forward and all should be set for release this summer. A decision on Tosun has already been made. Decisions on a number of players such as Michael Kean and Andros Townsend to name but two need to be made. Kean cannot be relied upon and is mentally very weak, while Townsend should never have been signed in the first place.
With the clear out of the squad, which must happen, holding on to the main players in the squad may well be the hardest thing on Lampard’s and Thelwell’s desks. With the club probably needing to sell to bring in money for transfers, the likes of Pickford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison will be on other team’s radars. It may be hard to resist a big offer for any of these three. It may also be just as hard to persuade them to stick around and be part of another one of the endless new beginnings.
When we look at the squad the imbalance and basically bang average quality is clear to see. So who should go and who should the blues look to recruit?
Goalkeeper
Keeping Jordan Pickford as the team’s number one is a no brainer. Asmir Begovic has been given a new one year contract as the club’s number two, A mistake in my opinion. But it seems Begovic is the chosen understudy for Pickford next season. What this signals for Joa Virginia is the question. He was sent out on a ridiculous loan to Sporting Lisbon last season and never got any real first team experience. A big question will be do the club send him out on loan again, (and this time to a team where he will actually get game time), or try to cash in on him. The crazy one year contract given to Andy Lonergan is up.
Defence
Clear problems at Centre Back mean that at least one new Centre back is a priority. Of the present squad Ben Godfrey when fully fit should cement his place as a first choice Centre Back next season. Mason Holgate started to show the form he had a couple of seasons ago under Lampard and his coaching team. For me Holgate is the best ball playing Centre Back at the club and has improved under Lampard. His form in the latter part of the season shows he is good enough to be part of the squad going forward. Michael Kean can have good games when his confidence is up but is an average Centre Back who we paid over the odds for under the arrogant Koeman. I would seek to move him on in the summer.
The same reluctantly would go for Yerry Mina. He is the best Centre Back at the club when he is fit, which is not very often. His injury record is appalling. Can we rely on a player who is only fit for 10 to 15 games a season? It is probably best if we cash in on Yerry this summer. With his fitness record we may not get anywhere near the amount paid for him but he is a saleable asset. Jarrad Branthwaite showed near the end of last season that he has a lot of developing to do and I actually hold more hope for Reece Welch who I hope will be given some chance to impress in pre season. It seems that Burnley Centre back James Tarkowsky, who is out of contract, is a target for the blues in the Centre Back position. We have been down this road to Turf Moor before with Michael Kean. Tarkowsky is a very average Premier League player who would do an average job but would not improve the defence in any degree whatsoever. The blues need to look for much better
The left back position also needs a good understudy for Vitali Mykolenko. Niels Nkonkou will be back with the blues this summer and may be given a chance under Lampard. But for me it is time to move him on. He was hit and miss during his loan spell at Standard Liège last season where he made 23 league appearance plus 2 in the cup. I watched him play for Standard a few times and it is clear the penny has not dropped. He still gets caught out of position to easily high up the pitch. At right back I expect Nathan Patterson to push and become first choice next season. This will then leave a decision on Seamus Coleman. Can we squeeze one more season out of him, as a backup for Patterson. Jonjoe Kenny whose contract is up this summer should be released. He is not a Premier League player and needs to find another club round the championship level.
Solutions
Everton have been linked with 26 year old Moussa Niakhaté at Mainz, and this is the sort of Centre Back which the team needs. He has improved his game over the last two seasons and is very athletic.
Glesion Bremer at Torino would be a very good acquisition but I think he will be staying in Italy with a number of clubs circling.
Evan Ndicka at Eintracht Frankfurt is a superb prospect although with Frankfurt now qualified for the champions League it would be a tall ask to tempt him away.
Jordan Teze at PSV would be top of my list. Just 22 years old he is improving all the time, an athletic and ball playing Centre Back.
Finally, Calvin Bassy at Rangers can play at both left back and Centre back and would be a player for both Centre Back at left back positions.
Depending what is decided with Seamus Coleman, if another right back was to be recruited then Alexander Bah at Slavia Prague would be a superb option. I have sung the praises of Bah for a couple of seasons. A fast, pacy wing back. But it seems that Benfica are quite close to signing him.
Midfield
To be blunt the blues midfield is an absolute mess and needs two or three players to improve it. The eternally injured Delph and Gabamin should both be moved on this summer. Delph’s contract is actually up. Allan is an ok enforcer when fit, which I did say when he joined is not that often. He is another player who needs to be disposed of. I think a move back to Italy at a mid table Serie A club could be a good option for him and the club. Van de Beek’s disastrous loan is up and he goes back to Manchester United without a second thought.
Some blues still hold out hope that Dele Ali can get back to the player he was about four years ago, and become a creative force in the toffee’s midfield. This delusion needs to end. He took the Ross Barkley road to oblivion a long time ago. One good half against Crystal Palace is all he has given the blues. All his other off the bench appearances and start at Arsenal show where his career has taken him. He is a shadow of the player he was when he first broke into the Tottenham Hotspur first team. He will never get back to that level. He is not any sort of answer to the toffee’s midfield.
Tom Davies time at Goodison is well and truly up and he needs to be sold, and for his own career he himself should be looking to move. Andrei Gomes has given Everton six months of good football when he first got into the team under Marco Silva. He has been on a rapidly declining path ever since. He put in some astonishingly bad performances last season, and his cameo away at Southampton beggars belief. Which leaves us with Doucoure as any sort of midfielder, and to be honest, if last season is anything to go by it is not saying much. The midfield is a very depressing department and needs much surgery.
Solutions
As mentioned above I hope Lewis Warrington, who is excellent in the number 6 position is given his chance in pre season along with Isaac Price. Both could really push on and be around the first team next season. But incomings are clearly needed.
Top of my list would be the outstanding Lincoln at Santa Clara an excellent creative attacking midfielder who at 23 would be a steal.
The other midfielder along with Lincoln who should be top of any list is 21year old Enzo Fernandez at River Plate. I mentioned this player last year. He is destined for Europe and both Manchester clubs and Real Madrid are now sniffing around. But if Everton could sell a project where he could sign as the first step on the European ladder who knows what could happen.
Davide Fratessi also 21 at Sassuolo, made the centre of the Nero Verdi’s midfield his own last season and is the other player who should be on the blues radar. He has played through the youth ranks for Italy from under 17’s to Under 21’s. Full caps are only a matter of time and may well come this summer.
Wing
More attacking threat on the wings will be needed next season. Anthony Gordon is on the right path and will improve even more. The gem which is Richarlison should be a priority for the blues to retain. But Damari Gray flatters to deceive. Yes, he can be good at times and is worth keeping but he is very overrated. Andros Townsend is a below average ageing winger and should be moved on and not have any part in the blues future. As for the El Ghazi loan, the less said about that the better.
Solutions
The blues probably need to bring in a winger. If Nicolas De La Cruz at 24 is ever to move from River Plate to Europe, then now is the time. A player who reminds me a lot of Richarlison. Never stops running and working. Besides out wide he can operate in midfield. He is more a hybrid winger/wide midfielder and would be a great acquisition.
The other player who like De LA Cruz can play as a winger or wide midfielder and has had his break out season is 22 year old Junior Traore at Sassuolo. He was outstanding last season and fully took over the mantle of Jeremie Boga when he moved to Atalanta in January.
Finally, there is Noni Madueke at PSV. I was looking for him to really kick on this season but he had quite a number of niggling injuries. Only 20 and an England Under 21 international and very skilful.
Striker
Cenk Tosun is finally leaving when his contract is up in the summer which will get a nice chunk of wages off the books. Striker Tom Cannon in the under 23’s should also be moved on. He will not make it at Everton and looks a lower league player at best. Both Nathan Broadhead and Ellis Sims out on loan last season at Sunderland and Hearts should also be moved on. Neither are good enough for Everton and are not Premier League standard. If deals can be done with Sunderland and Hearts for their transfer then the toffees should bite both club’s hands off to do a deal.
Solutions
Lewis Dobbin should be given his chance in pre season and I think he could be an asset to the first team squad next season. The good thing about Dobbin is he can play either out wide or down the middle and he has a quick turn of pace. The club, as mentioned above should do all in its power to retain Richarlison. Domonic Calvert-Lewin is the big question with rumours that both Arsenal and Newcastle United are very interested. If one of the three real assets at the club in Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Pickford have to be sold then it really should be Calvert-Lewin. But if Calvert Lewin goes or stays another striker needs to be brought in.
Brian Brobbey at RB Leipzig or Gianluca Scamacca another at Sassuolo are both perfect fits for the Premier League. Brobbey is the one where the best chance of a deal could be done. A very strong forward who would suit the Premier League and is only 20 years old with huge potential. He came through under Ten Hag at Ajax and was bought for 5 million euro by Leipzig last summer. He failed to get into the Leipzig team under the disastrous management of Jesse Marsch and moved back to Ajax on loan. Now back at Leipzig after his loan, he would be perfect for Everton.
Scamacca at 22 would be a shoe in for the Premier League, strong in the air and very skilful for such a tall player. Now a full Italian international this boat may well have sailed, as it looks like Internazionale will be acquiring his services.
Nottingham Forest’s Brenan Johnson has been mentioned in dispatches. Not seen much of him but he does look to have some potential from the little I have seen of him and at 21 looks an interesting prospect.
Finally with a number of Europe’s big clubs already circling, 18 year old Julio Enciso at Libertad would be a dream, if Everton offered him the first steps to Europe. He is destined to be Paraguay’s main striker for years to come
Conclusion
It is clear that the blues need yet another new beginning and a total overhaul and rebuild of the first team squad. A total clear out of a number of players as mentioned above is needed. This could be the hardest part of Kevin Thelwell’s summer, as trying to move on average players on big wages is not exactly an easy job, as Marcel Brands quickly found out.
As for the rebuild which is needed, the players who I have identified in the article would easily improve the blues. Some would be gettable, while others such as Fernandez and Scammacca may now be out of reach, but these are the sort of players which Everton need to to be recruiting.
Finally, it will all come down to finances. How much will the blues have to spend in the summer transfer market? It is clear that the club are very close to Premier League profit and sustainability limits, which may mean another summer where Everton are limited in the amount, they have to spend in the summer transfer window. The only way this will change is if the club bring in money from player sales.
Which means that Kevin Thelwell is the most important lynch pin to the rebuild which is needed before the start of next season.
Early signs are that Lampard seems to get on and have a good working relationship with the new Director of Football Kevin Thelwell. This relationship will be key this summer, especially with the club again not having any sort of transfer chest to speak of, unless a major sale of one of the blues real assets takes place. This being the case, Kevin Thelwell has one massive summer in front of him. In reality he is probably the most important piece of the jigsaw when it comes to rebuilding the squad. So what are the main areas for Thelwell and Lampard to concentrate on?
The Academy
The obvious start is the academy and changing the appalling lack of quality coming through the academy. Although obviously this is more of a long term project. Thelwell made it plain when he joined the blues that bringing through players from the academy for the first team, or to sell for profit would be a major area of his work. Things are starting to move on this front with the removal of the dead hand David Unsworth, and the splitting of the ridiculous dual role of academy head and Under 23s manager. What is encouraging is that these now two separate posts have not just been handed down to one of Blue Blood Bill’s mates, which litter the academy set up. Both posts have been advertised outside the club. A clear sign that the jobs for the boy’s culture at Everton may no longer be tolerated. It is to be hoped that two strong candidates are recruited who are not part of the current set up.
As the season drew to a close a number of players from the academy appeared on the first team bench. I certainly have hopes for midfielder Lewis Warrington (who spent the second half of the season impressing on loan at Tranmere Rovers), Centre Back Reece Welch and forward Lewis Dobbin. Lampard himself has talked up midfielder Isaac Price, who actually got on pitch for the final part of the awful defeat in the last game of the season at Arsenal. Hopefully the beginnings of a change of culture in the academy may be about to start, with more first team chances given to some of the more promising young players from the academy.
The Current Squad
One of Lampard’s and Thelwell’s priorities must be to make decisions on a number of the first team squad. Players such as Cenk Tosun (who is leaving), Jonjoe Kenny and the eternally injured Fabian Delph are all out of contract. None of these players are good enough for the club going forward and all should be set for release this summer. A decision on Tosun has already been made. Decisions on a number of players such as Michael Kean and Andros Townsend to name but two need to be made. Kean cannot be relied upon and is mentally very weak, while Townsend should never have been signed in the first place.
With the clear out of the squad, which must happen, holding on to the main players in the squad may well be the hardest thing on Lampard’s and Thelwell’s desks. With the club probably needing to sell to bring in money for transfers, the likes of Pickford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison will be on other team’s radars. It may be hard to resist a big offer for any of these three. It may also be just as hard to persuade them to stick around and be part of another one of the endless new beginnings.
When we look at the squad the imbalance and basically bang average quality is clear to see. So who should go and who should the blues look to recruit?
Goalkeeper
Keeping Jordan Pickford as the team’s number one is a no brainer. Asmir Begovic has been given a new one year contract as the club’s number two, A mistake in my opinion. But it seems Begovic is the chosen understudy for Pickford next season. What this signals for Joa Virginia is the question. He was sent out on a ridiculous loan to Sporting Lisbon last season and never got any real first team experience. A big question will be do the club send him out on loan again, (and this time to a team where he will actually get game time), or try to cash in on him. The crazy one year contract given to Andy Lonergan is up.
Defence
Clear problems at Centre Back mean that at least one new Centre back is a priority. Of the present squad Ben Godfrey when fully fit should cement his place as a first choice Centre Back next season. Mason Holgate started to show the form he had a couple of seasons ago under Lampard and his coaching team. For me Holgate is the best ball playing Centre Back at the club and has improved under Lampard. His form in the latter part of the season shows he is good enough to be part of the squad going forward. Michael Kean can have good games when his confidence is up but is an average Centre Back who we paid over the odds for under the arrogant Koeman. I would seek to move him on in the summer.
The same reluctantly would go for Yerry Mina. He is the best Centre Back at the club when he is fit, which is not very often. His injury record is appalling. Can we rely on a player who is only fit for 10 to 15 games a season? It is probably best if we cash in on Yerry this summer. With his fitness record we may not get anywhere near the amount paid for him but he is a saleable asset. Jarrad Branthwaite showed near the end of last season that he has a lot of developing to do and I actually hold more hope for Reece Welch who I hope will be given some chance to impress in pre season. It seems that Burnley Centre back James Tarkowsky, who is out of contract, is a target for the blues in the Centre Back position. We have been down this road to Turf Moor before with Michael Kean. Tarkowsky is a very average Premier League player who would do an average job but would not improve the defence in any degree whatsoever. The blues need to look for much better
The left back position also needs a good understudy for Vitali Mykolenko. Niels Nkonkou will be back with the blues this summer and may be given a chance under Lampard. But for me it is time to move him on. He was hit and miss during his loan spell at Standard Liège last season where he made 23 league appearance plus 2 in the cup. I watched him play for Standard a few times and it is clear the penny has not dropped. He still gets caught out of position to easily high up the pitch. At right back I expect Nathan Patterson to push and become first choice next season. This will then leave a decision on Seamus Coleman. Can we squeeze one more season out of him, as a backup for Patterson. Jonjoe Kenny whose contract is up this summer should be released. He is not a Premier League player and needs to find another club round the championship level.
Solutions
Everton have been linked with 26 year old Moussa Niakhaté at Mainz, and this is the sort of Centre Back which the team needs. He has improved his game over the last two seasons and is very athletic.
Glesion Bremer at Torino would be a very good acquisition but I think he will be staying in Italy with a number of clubs circling.
Evan Ndicka at Eintracht Frankfurt is a superb prospect although with Frankfurt now qualified for the champions League it would be a tall ask to tempt him away.
Jordan Teze at PSV would be top of my list. Just 22 years old he is improving all the time, an athletic and ball playing Centre Back.
Finally, Calvin Bassy at Rangers can play at both left back and Centre back and would be a player for both Centre Back at left back positions.
Depending what is decided with Seamus Coleman, if another right back was to be recruited then Alexander Bah at Slavia Prague would be a superb option. I have sung the praises of Bah for a couple of seasons. A fast, pacy wing back. But it seems that Benfica are quite close to signing him.
Midfield
To be blunt the blues midfield is an absolute mess and needs two or three players to improve it. The eternally injured Delph and Gabamin should both be moved on this summer. Delph’s contract is actually up. Allan is an ok enforcer when fit, which I did say when he joined is not that often. He is another player who needs to be disposed of. I think a move back to Italy at a mid table Serie A club could be a good option for him and the club. Van de Beek’s disastrous loan is up and he goes back to Manchester United without a second thought.
Some blues still hold out hope that Dele Ali can get back to the player he was about four years ago, and become a creative force in the toffee’s midfield. This delusion needs to end. He took the Ross Barkley road to oblivion a long time ago. One good half against Crystal Palace is all he has given the blues. All his other off the bench appearances and start at Arsenal show where his career has taken him. He is a shadow of the player he was when he first broke into the Tottenham Hotspur first team. He will never get back to that level. He is not any sort of answer to the toffee’s midfield.
Tom Davies time at Goodison is well and truly up and he needs to be sold, and for his own career he himself should be looking to move. Andrei Gomes has given Everton six months of good football when he first got into the team under Marco Silva. He has been on a rapidly declining path ever since. He put in some astonishingly bad performances last season, and his cameo away at Southampton beggars belief. Which leaves us with Doucoure as any sort of midfielder, and to be honest, if last season is anything to go by it is not saying much. The midfield is a very depressing department and needs much surgery.
Solutions
As mentioned above I hope Lewis Warrington, who is excellent in the number 6 position is given his chance in pre season along with Isaac Price. Both could really push on and be around the first team next season. But incomings are clearly needed.
Top of my list would be the outstanding Lincoln at Santa Clara an excellent creative attacking midfielder who at 23 would be a steal.
The other midfielder along with Lincoln who should be top of any list is 21year old Enzo Fernandez at River Plate. I mentioned this player last year. He is destined for Europe and both Manchester clubs and Real Madrid are now sniffing around. But if Everton could sell a project where he could sign as the first step on the European ladder who knows what could happen.
Davide Fratessi also 21 at Sassuolo, made the centre of the Nero Verdi’s midfield his own last season and is the other player who should be on the blues radar. He has played through the youth ranks for Italy from under 17’s to Under 21’s. Full caps are only a matter of time and may well come this summer.
Wing
More attacking threat on the wings will be needed next season. Anthony Gordon is on the right path and will improve even more. The gem which is Richarlison should be a priority for the blues to retain. But Damari Gray flatters to deceive. Yes, he can be good at times and is worth keeping but he is very overrated. Andros Townsend is a below average ageing winger and should be moved on and not have any part in the blues future. As for the El Ghazi loan, the less said about that the better.
Solutions
The blues probably need to bring in a winger. If Nicolas De La Cruz at 24 is ever to move from River Plate to Europe, then now is the time. A player who reminds me a lot of Richarlison. Never stops running and working. Besides out wide he can operate in midfield. He is more a hybrid winger/wide midfielder and would be a great acquisition.
The other player who like De LA Cruz can play as a winger or wide midfielder and has had his break out season is 22 year old Junior Traore at Sassuolo. He was outstanding last season and fully took over the mantle of Jeremie Boga when he moved to Atalanta in January.
Finally, there is Noni Madueke at PSV. I was looking for him to really kick on this season but he had quite a number of niggling injuries. Only 20 and an England Under 21 international and very skilful.
Striker
Cenk Tosun is finally leaving when his contract is up in the summer which will get a nice chunk of wages off the books. Striker Tom Cannon in the under 23’s should also be moved on. He will not make it at Everton and looks a lower league player at best. Both Nathan Broadhead and Ellis Sims out on loan last season at Sunderland and Hearts should also be moved on. Neither are good enough for Everton and are not Premier League standard. If deals can be done with Sunderland and Hearts for their transfer then the toffees should bite both club’s hands off to do a deal.
Solutions
Lewis Dobbin should be given his chance in pre season and I think he could be an asset to the first team squad next season. The good thing about Dobbin is he can play either out wide or down the middle and he has a quick turn of pace. The club, as mentioned above should do all in its power to retain Richarlison. Domonic Calvert-Lewin is the big question with rumours that both Arsenal and Newcastle United are very interested. If one of the three real assets at the club in Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Pickford have to be sold then it really should be Calvert-Lewin. But if Calvert Lewin goes or stays another striker needs to be brought in.
Brian Brobbey at RB Leipzig or Gianluca Scamacca another at Sassuolo are both perfect fits for the Premier League. Brobbey is the one where the best chance of a deal could be done. A very strong forward who would suit the Premier League and is only 20 years old with huge potential. He came through under Ten Hag at Ajax and was bought for 5 million euro by Leipzig last summer. He failed to get into the Leipzig team under the disastrous management of Jesse Marsch and moved back to Ajax on loan. Now back at Leipzig after his loan, he would be perfect for Everton.
Scamacca at 22 would be a shoe in for the Premier League, strong in the air and very skilful for such a tall player. Now a full Italian international this boat may well have sailed, as it looks like Internazionale will be acquiring his services.
Nottingham Forest’s Brenan Johnson has been mentioned in dispatches. Not seen much of him but he does look to have some potential from the little I have seen of him and at 21 looks an interesting prospect.
Finally with a number of Europe’s big clubs already circling, 18 year old Julio Enciso at Libertad would be a dream, if Everton offered him the first steps to Europe. He is destined to be Paraguay’s main striker for years to come
Conclusion
It is clear that the blues need yet another new beginning and a total overhaul and rebuild of the first team squad. A total clear out of a number of players as mentioned above is needed. This could be the hardest part of Kevin Thelwell’s summer, as trying to move on average players on big wages is not exactly an easy job, as Marcel Brands quickly found out.
As for the rebuild which is needed, the players who I have identified in the article would easily improve the blues. Some would be gettable, while others such as Fernandez and Scammacca may now be out of reach, but these are the sort of players which Everton need to to be recruiting.
Finally, it will all come down to finances. How much will the blues have to spend in the summer transfer market? It is clear that the club are very close to Premier League profit and sustainability limits, which may mean another summer where Everton are limited in the amount, they have to spend in the summer transfer window. The only way this will change is if the club bring in money from player sales.
Which means that Kevin Thelwell is the most important lynch pin to the rebuild which is needed before the start of next season.
