Here are your Everton morning headlines for Thursday, December 22.
Kevin Thelwell's plan
Kevin Thelwell is overseeing a 120-point plan to overhaul Everton.
The director of football, appointed in February, is leading the Finch Farm revolution in hope of bringing sustainable progress on the pitch and across the academy setup. It is part of a series of changes introduced as a result of a strategic review into the football operation held as the Blues slid towards trouble last season.
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Twelve months on from its launch, 26 members of staff have been appointed to different roles - including to the positions of academy director, loan pathway manager and head of sports science.
Everton head into the resumption of the Premier League with the club’s season on a knife edge. A win at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day could set the tone for a positive January that, with Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton also due at Goodison Park, presents opportunities for the Blues to climb the table. But with the club just one place and one point above the bottom three, a disappointing result on December 26 could lead to the club entering 2023 in the relegation zone.
Thelwell and, just before him, manager Frank Lampard were appointed with the club heading towards trouble last season and, while senior figures are confident progress is being made, the threat of another gruelling campaign hangs over this one. Yet while the defeat at Bournemouth in the final game before the World Cup break was described as a “reality check” by Lampard, who has pointed to the club’s struggle last season and loss of talisman Richarlison as key factors to consider when assessing progress, much has changed at Finch Farm under his and Thelwell’s watch. Their hope is that, with patience and support, they are laying the foundations for sustainable, long term progress.
Read the rest of Joe Thomas' brilliantly detailed piece here.
Harry Souttar interest
Everton could reignite their interest in Harry Souttar after the defender's excellent displays at the World Cup, according to the Daily Mail.
Souttar was a standout performer as Australia progressed into the round-of-16 in Qatar. After defeat against eventual finalists France, the Socceroos kept consecutive clean sheets in 1-0 wins against Tunisia and Denmark, with the 6ft 6ins defender front and centre.
Such form has inevitably attracted some interest from Premier League clubs, with Tottenham Hotspur and Everton 'on alert' ahead of the January transfer window. The Toffees have held previous interest in the Stoke City man but backed off after the injury last year.
With six senior centre-backs already on the Everton books, any additions in that role will almost definitely see one or more go the other way. Out of favour Michael Keane is said to be of interest to several top-flight sides including Leicester City and West Ham, while Yerry Mina may also see the exit door, following another torrid spell with injury.
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