Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, you’ll be fully aware of Everton’s dreadful Premier League campaign on the whole this season. With Frank Lampard eventually providing survival when many fans were fearing the worst, focus is now heading towards a summer rebuild as the Everton faithful hope that lessons from what has been a farcical season will be learned.
There are encouraging noises emerging from the club, namely the apparent strategic review that is expected to influence further change this summer. The review played a part in the departure of former director of football Marcel Brands, the dismissal of Rafa Benitez, and the eventual appointment of Chelsea legend, Lampard. While Premier League champions Manchester City have been relegated twice previously, whether or not Everton would have been able to recover in the same way is entirely unlikely. Thankfully, with the strategic review ultimately securing survival thanks to the appointment of Lampard, the Blues don’t have to confront that potential scenario, but there is no doubting that there are some serious issues within the club. No remarkable comeback victory over Crystal Palace in the penultimate game of the season can hide that.
Lampard has dead wood to offload
While issues off the pitch will play a key role in whether or not the club will have success on it, there is a clear need for Frank Lampard to perform some surgery on his evidently weak squad in the summer window. Despite millions being spent in recent times, there are several players that are surely deemed surplus to requirements. In defense, the likes of Michael Keane and Yerry Mina have struggled all season, be it with form or injuries, especially with regards to the Colombian, who is on the last year of his contract. Additionally, undoubted high earners in the shape of Fabian Delph, Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin will surely leave Everton in the summer, with the latter reportedly seeking a permanent move after a successful loan spell at CSKA Moscow. In the forward areas of the team, Salomon Rondon is surely planning his exit strategy, too.
Young and hungry is the way to go
Everton’s transfer business needs a serious amount of work if improvements are to be made next season. With the aforementioned strategic review underway and fronted by chairman, Bill Kenwright, and chief executive, Denise Barrett-Baxendale, it’s expected to result in an emphasis on younger players hungry to establish themselves in the Premier League. With that in mind, Everton are surely in for a summer clear out. While there is hope that the likes of Dele Alli will eventually rediscover his past form, there needs to be a conscious effort from the hierarchy within the club to avoid taking such financially risky gambles in the future. Instead of signing former England favourites, the club needs to be assessing future Three Lions stars and providing a solid foundation for youngsters to learn and improve. That, coupled with some additional quality and experience in key areas, alongside Lampard’s coaching credentials, could result in an improved showing next season.
Keeping Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison a priority
While Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison aren’t irreplaceable, their potential departures could put the club back even further in terms of proven Premier League quality. Despite Calvert-Lewin’s season failing to go to plan, there are clubs reportedly queuing up for his signature. A key cog in Everton’s wheel, the same applies to Richarlison, with the Brazilian attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Keeping both strikers and adding quality around them must be a priority for Lampard and the club’s hierarchy this summer.