Townsend and Gray are currently playing very well, but if we are serious about having European ambitions (I suspect we are not) then signing these types of players alone is unlikely to succeed in the long term. Realistically, we could be looking at losing Delph, Sigurdsson, Gomes and Davies by the end of this season, leaving us with only Allan and Doucoure as CMs. I won't shed a tear for any of those players leaving the club, and I suspect at least one of Gomes and Davies will stay, but with the system we play we will need to replace all of them and with our financial situation we are in the Longstaff category of signings. On top of all of that, I suspect we will be selling Richarlison and possibly DCL and, although we will receive good fees for them, I am anxious about our ability to scout younger, cheaper replacements which is where we are now as a club.
P.S. Newcastle are mince, playing for them semi-regularly should not be a qualification for signing for Everton. Why we are determined to become Evertoon, I will never understand.