Everton’s Premier League survival is dependent on the decisions made by the club across 10 of the most important days in its modern history.
For the second consecutive season the club is facing a battle against what would be a disastrous relegation. And once again it is entering the closing stages of a January transfer window on the hunt for a new manager after the dismissal of Frank Lampard.
There is now just one week left to strengthen the squad for Lampard’s replacement and the club is confident Arnaut Danjuma is set to become the first signing of the January transfer window. But further additions may be needed as attention turns to finding a new manager fast enough to make the most of the precious time until Everton next play.
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Director of football Kevin Thelwell must be allowed to play a key role in the search for Lampard’s replacement. In the aftermath of his departure it was reported that majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri had sought contact with former Leeds United boss Marcel Bielsa over a move to Merseyside. The ECHO understands no significant discussions had been held with Sean Dyche before the decision was taken on Lampard’s fate but he remains a frontrunner with Bielsa, while claims the club had contacted ex-player Wayne Rooney also surfaced following his exit. Whatever happens, one key feature from last January’s manager hunt must be repeated - the appointment must be agreed upon in unison by those at the top. Much was made of Lampard being the first appointment of the Moshiri era who was chosen unanimously, with Mr Moshiri having led the way on bringing in his controversial predecessor, former Liverpool FC manager Rafa Benitez. When Lampard was agreed upon Everton had not replaced Marcel Brands and so did not have a director of football in place. This time, agreement should move beyond the boardroom and Thelwell must have a say in who moves into the office opposite his at Finch Farm, with their relationship crucial to the club’s fortunes.
Thelwell is well-liked and well-respected in the footballing world and would likely have drawn up a list of potential replacements for Lampard following the 4-1 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion that was the catalyst for his exit three weeks later, if not after the worrying three defeats in the final week before the World Cup break. Thelwell will also have to continue to pursue targets in the remaining days of the transfer window. Danjuma is expected to boost the new manager’s firepower with the 25-year-old’s loan deal from Villarreal close to completion. But Lampard entered January in the belief two attacking signings were required so more work remains to be done. In his final press conference at Everton, after the defeat to West Ham United, Lampard said new players were the key to taking the team forward. Lampard and Thelwell had a list of targets prepared ahead of the World Cup but business has been forced into the final week of the window due to the club’s financial constraints. Matheus Cunha, who moved from Atletico Madrid to Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Danny Ings, who made his debut for new club West Ham against Everton, were both considered beyond the club’s means.
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Pragmatism in the transfer market and the managerial hunt may mean some elements of the strategic review, much heralded by the board as the club adopting a new, unified approach for sustainable progress, are put to one side. Key pillars include trying to build a consistent style of play and sign players who are young, hungry and could grow in value as they develop with Everton - summer signings Amadou Onana and James Garner the best examples. Everton’s priority now has to be survival though and finding goals in the transfer market and a manager who can lead his team through a survival dogfight will be key.
Finding unity within the squad will also be crucial. The first team was given Monday off and under-21s boss Paul Tait and U18s head coach Leighton Baines will now lead training but the gap until the next match with Arsenal, a result of Everton’s FA Cup third round exit, provides a new manager with a window of time to get to know his players if the club can move quickly. This could present a new opportunity for those who had fallen out of favour under Lampard. Michael Keane barely played under him and is the subject of interest from several Serie A clubs keen to consider a loan deal for the centre back. Leeds United and Nottingham Forest are among the clubs that have contemplated the potential availability of Mason Holgate. Tom Davies started against Brighton but is out of contract at the end of the season along with Abdoulaye Doucoure, who is rumoured to have been ordered to train away from the first team after a fall-out with Lampard after the Southampton defeat. It was also claimed Keane was marginalised after that game but the 30-year-old has been absent from recent matchday squads due to a knee injury. Those struggling for minutes could now have an opportunity to fight for their places, though decisions on their futures may have to be made by Thelwell as he assesses whether any can depart. Outgoings were expected to be a significant part of this transfer window but of the first team squad only Salomon Rondon has left so far. His contract was terminated by mutual consent. Everton had hoped to raise cash through player sales but the club’s financial issues have instead led to a predominance of loan enquiries and that interest has typically come from rivals in the relegation battle, providing further difficulty in sanctioning exits.
Progress was advanced on new contracts for Anthony Gordon, Alex Iwobi and Jordan Pickford but no new deals have been announced despite finalising them being considered among the club’s priorities. Gordon and Lampard shared a positive relationship - to the point where other players joked Gordon was Lampard’s son - but the 21-year-old is the subject of interest from Newcastle United and Chelsea once again. A formation change and the post-World Cup improvement in form of Demarai Gray has led to him struggling to break into the starting line-up in recent weeks and, in the final question he was asked by the media while Everton boss, Lampard refused to “shed light” on the decision not to introduce Gordon as his side desperately sought a way back against West Ham. If he becomes the target of sustained interest over the next week it could present another big decision to consider.
For the next 10 days, attention will be focused on what is going on behind the scenes. But if a new manager is installed during that period they will begin their tenure with a home tie with league leaders Arsenal and then an Anfield Merseyside derby. The following game will have added intensity as Leeds United visit Goodison Park. Leeds are also among the sides battling in the lower reaches of the table and, should Bielsa be appointed, the game will take on the added dimension of him playing his old club. Arsenal will be a difficult occasion for any boss’ debut - on and off the pitch. The match is set to be the scene of another peaceful fan protest against the management of the club and will be the subject of huge scrutiny over whether board members attend after Everton claimed they were unable to do so against Southampton due to what it described as credible security concerns. In response to questions from the ECHO and other outlets, Merseyside Police later confirmed it was made aware of those concerns but was not part of the wider security assessment, nor did it receive any formal complaints about any specific alleged incidents. Any new manager will enter a club where the relationship between those at the top and the supporters is at rock bottom and where the manner of Lampard’s departure only added to the sense of chaos - more than five hours passed between his exit being reported and the club’s official announcement confirming it. Senior figures at both the Royal Liver Building offices and Finch Farm training ground learned of his dismissal from the media.
Whatever happens next, Everton must look to reset relations with its supporters, its greatest asset, and find a unified approach to dealing with the latest crisis to befall a storied and historic institution with an importance to Merseyside that stretches far beyond footballing matters. If the club fails to do so, a catastrophic relegation could follow.
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