The opening games of the season have been a reminder of not one, but two, potential problems facing Frank Lampard and Everton this season.
While the club's need for more forward options is clear – and has been since before the Blues boss highlighted his attacking "void" during the pre-season tour of the US – a second key issue is also obvious. The depth of Everton's squad is a concern.
In a campaign in which five substitutes can now be made in each match, those with the bigger squads will have a major advantage in the Premier League. Addressing this will be another issue on the minds of Lampard and director of football Kevin Thelwell in the final days of the summer transfer window.
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On first glance, there appeared little difference between the substitutes named by Everton and Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Amadou Onana and Dwight McNeil have both cost the Blues money this summer while the likes of Michael Keane, Allan and Jean-Phillipe Gbamin were all expensive signings when they were brought to Goodison Park. But in reality, Lampard's options were limited when he turned to the bench to look for inspiration. Onana was still in a battle for match fitness after his move from Lille disrupted his pre-season, Allan was yet to start a game since last season due to persistent injuries and Gbamin's future on Merseyside appears in doubt due to his lack of action despite Everton suffering an injury crisis in midfield.
Lampard had already started the game with Alex Iwobi playing in the middle which – while he has been impressive – is not his traditional position. He was alongside Tom Davies, who was also fighting for match fitness after injury curtailed his start to the campaign, while Salomon Rondon started upfront due to Dominic Calvert-Lewin's knee problem. When Rondon was replaced by McNeil it required the 22-year-old to become another player forced to operate out of position.
Meanwhile, Steve Cooper's squad boasted over £100m of new signings and a bench that included recent additions to the value of more than £60m. Among them was Morgan Gibbs-White – who signed for Forest despite last-minute efforts by Everton to attract the player. His introduction after 61 minutes was a turning point that led to Brennan Johnson's goal. And while it was cancelled out by Demarai Gray's late equaliser it showcased one of the challenges faced by Lampard this season – competing against squads with greater strength in depth.
It is a challenge that will be in his mind for the next seven days. Everton cannot afford to simply have a competitive 11, they need to have a competitive squad. While the return to fitness of the likes of Ben Godfrey, Yerry Mina, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Andros Townsend and Calvert-Lewin would help, the reality is several players have struggled with injury over recent months and years and may do so again in the depths of the season.
With one week of the transfer window to go, the squad could get yet smaller. Dele Alli is closing on a move to Besiktas while Anthony Gordon is still the subject of interest from Chelsea despite initial offers being rejected. The clubs remain in talks over a possible transfer. Gordon is said to love the club and supporters and is not thought to have handed in a transfer request nor left a new contract unsigned. But he is also understood to be ambitious and there is a belief Chelsea are willing to offer enough money to seriously challenge Everton's stated position of not being interested in receiving bids for the 21-year-old.
One thing is clear – a quick resolution should be in everyone's interest. Everton either need the certainty of his place in future squads or the money to rebuild his sale would likely create. While the club is close to profit and sustainability limits it is not thought to be in a position of needing to sell players to buy new ones. But the £50m+ bids Gordon could attract would no doubt boost Lampard's coffers.
A speedy solution is needed as the players linked with Everton make their own moves. One striker linked with the club in the past week has been Che Adams but he has since scored four goals in two games for Southampton, raising further questions about his availability. Rennes forward Martin Terrier, another player reportedly linked to the Blues, has now signed a contract extension at the club while Everton struck too late to hijack Forest's deal for Gibbs-White. As time passes the options reduce in number and increase in value. Meanwhile, Everton are now thought to be looking at Manchester United's James Garner as talks over Idrissa Gueye and Mohammed Kudus, of Paris Saint Germain and Ajax respectively, have stalled.
Everton have talent in the academy and Lampard is waiting to see what happens over the coming days before he will even consider the possibility of Lewis Warrington or Stanley Mills – both of whom continue to impress with every opportunity and made their first team debuts at Fleetwood Town on Tuesday – leaving on loan. Lampard has repeatedly praised both and said at the weekend he would look at their situations only once the transfer window has concluded.
Last season showed the danger of having a small squad as Everton struggled to avoid relegation amid an injury crisis. This season, injuries have hit again and guarding against them – and making sure Lampard has options he can trust when he turns to his bench – will be a crucial part of the final days of the transfer window.
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