As earlier mentioned and assuming Dom is with us next season the likes of the strikers I mentioned I think are wise too pursue. But I am curious what others feelings are on a possible DCL sell. Rumors are faint, and it doesnt seem like someone would trigger the reported 80 Million that we have put on him. That said I do think if someone would pay that the questions are interesting.
Take for instance rumored target this window, fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic who is repoorted to be available at 38 million. Of course its a risk, but I dont think their is 40 million separating those two. And if europe is unlikely next season (as I suspect) and a Dom exit looming, if you were guaranteed Vlahovic's signature or a proven player of that ilk, would you feel comfortable with a DCL exit prematurely?
Its a specific hypothetical but one in the vein worth having. Beyond the specific players mentioned what are the conditions we feel comfortable parting wiith are best assets and most important players. Especially when their exit feels inevitable at some point.
I like vhalovic quite a bit. A bit slower than DCL but meaner, more pwerful and more clinical in front of goal. I think goodison would love him. Dunc would love him. If we sold DCL that would be a very smart buy.
I appreciate the way you've posed the question, rather than simply stating (as some others have) that we should sell DCL for whatever we can get and then just hope we can find a replacement.
If it were my decision, I would replace DCL as our starting CF with someone already in the squad: Richarlison. I would spend the money on upgrading the wide positions, because those players are slightly cheaper and there's more of them around. I've mentioned them before, but I'd be in for Pereira from WBA and Olise from Reading even if DCL was staying. If he went, I'd move Richarlison to CF and look to bring in Bailey (Laverkusen), Pereira and Olise to play out wide.
With regard to your final paragraph, and the question about other assets: I would part with the ones that help me fund / provide squad space for better replacements. A good example is the repeated mentions of Ben White from Brighton: he seems expensive at £50m, but if we were to sell Michael Keane for £20m and Yerry Mina for £25m then we'd be selling two assets at the right time (in terms of their remaining contract lengths and current wages) and bringing in a better (when compared to Keane) player who is more likely to be fit to play 40 games a season (in comparison to Mina, who picks up a worrying number of minor niggly injuries), for a net spend of £5m, whilst also reducing the wage bill.
Everything will depend on whether Benitez plays on the front foot (no Keane and possibly Mina) or continues the more 'safety first' approach.
On the surface when looking at replacing DCL we could either move Richarlison centrally (as
@Tree13 suggests) or sign a replacement such as Vlahovic (as
@nonstripdzebra mentions).
Ordinarily id be open to both ideas but I think theres something to be said about having young England internationals in the team.
In fact, i think we should be looking at the spine of the team in Pickford, Godfrey and DCL. We should extend all three of their contracts to 5 years and build the team around them.
As
@Tree13 says, if we could sell Mina and Keane and bring in enough for White then id do that. Id also not hesitate about £30mil for Aarons either.
A back 5 of, Pickford--Digne/Godfrey/White/Aarons looks on paper like a top 6 foundation. Four of those players could be playing together for well over 5 years for both Everton and England.
I was laughed at the other day but i dont see why (if we signed those two) we wouldnt at least try for Rice or Phillips (or even Bellingham) who may be enticed due to money (obviously) but also playing with our young England players.
Pickford Godfrey White DCL -- there cant be many more teams with 4 young England players...with perhaps Aarons making the breakthrough.
Ive not seen a minute of the euros and have always felt that the very top sides from years back until recently would have a nuclus of international 'local' players -- Bayern, Arsenal, United, Barca etc...
--Aside from that then Id be after players like Kamara £25mil and Bailey £40mil to add some flavour...tbh theres alot of young players attainable at the moment who would improve us.
France and Brazil have some tasty players in the olympics.
