Sometimes known as ‘the silly season’, we’re currently experiencing the time of year for wild speculation when it comes to football comings and goings but at Everton it seems such rumour extends even beyond players.
Indeed, with transfer funds understood to be tight at Goodison Park as Financial Fair Play restrictions continue to bite, the squad rebuilding so patently required after the lowest equivalent points total in the club’s 135-year Football League/Premier League history has so far proven to be a slow process. Manager Sean Dyche was last week spotted enjoying a well-earned break at the Glastonbury music festival after guiding the Blues to safety on the final game of last season, having taken on the role in late January when the team were joint bottom of the table.
When the former long-serving Burnley gaffer – who celebrates his 52nd birthday on Wednesday – gets back to work at Finch Farm, he and director of football Kevin Thelwell will be plotting how to reshape Everton’s pool of first-team players, which is lacking in both quality and balance and get the first signing of the current regime over the line. A couple of new attackers plus a full-back are the priority areas and it’s difficult to find recruits of suitable pedigree in the former area on the cheap.
