In just six weeks, Everton supporters will return to Goodison Park to watch their side kick-off the new Premier League campaign against Fulham.
The hopes. The dreams. The optimism. The belief that something more than a battle to avoid the drop can be achieved.
But as Everton supporters sit today, looking ahead to the new campaign, they could be forgiven for thinking history is about to repeat itself. Another battle to avoid relegation to the Sky Bet Championship.
Sean Dyche made no attempt to sugarcoat Everton’s latest relegation escape after victory against Bournemouth on the final day. Survival afforded the 52-year-old the opportunity to speak with refreshing honesty.
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But while things have changed off the pitch since the full-time whistle blew against the Cherries, on it, Everton’s squad has gotten weaker.
Just last week, Tom Davies became the second player to reject the offer of a new deal after Asmir Begovic. Yerry Mina and Andros Townsend have also left the club following the expiration of their contracts.
Everton also decided against triggering a £4.5million option to sign Conor Coady from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The centre-back is now set to join Leicester City.
The Blues now face another crucial summer in the transfer market. The task ahead for Kevin Thelwell and Sean Dyche is huge.
The pair must attempt to trim a bloated squad and bring together a group that will be fit for purpose. It won’t be easy, as Dyche has already said he will not have the sort of 'war chest; some of his predecessors enjoyed; free agents and the loan market will likely be of particular interest.
Last summer's transfer window was Thelwell’s first as director of football at Everton. It is safe to say that there were some hits and misses.
Big money was spent on Amadou Onana, and although he impressed at times just like Idrissa Gueye (another summer signing) did, both also had their own moments of struggle. The first half of the campaign was one of frustration for James Garner, but the way he finished the season was more than impressive, and the expectation is that he will become a key player in Dyche’s side this season.
At the back, James Tarkowski was arguably Everton’s best performer behind Jordan Pickford, and the fact he played every minute of every Premier League game speaks volumes. Coady also proved to be another shrewd addition, and the fact Leicester are set to pay £4m more than the Blues would have had to fork out is a nod in the direction of Thelwell and his impressive work.
However, there were two major misses when it came to last summer’s recruitment. Ruben Vinagre barely kicked a ball after joining on loan from Sporting CP, and the fact that both Frank Lampard and Dyche overlooked the left-back was quite telling.
While the signing of Neal Maupay was nothing short of a disaster. One goal in 29 appearances tells the story, and it would be no surprise to see the 26-year-old depart Goodison Park this summer.
Everton then endured a dreadful end to the January transfer window, with numerous attempts to strengthen Dyche’s squad resulting in failure. The former Burnley chief wanted two attacking additions to help in the fight for Premier League survival, but none were forthcoming as the Blues ended the window as the only top-flight club not to make a signing.
And Anthony Gordon joining Newcastle United ensured the club ended the window weaker than when they started it. The botched recruitment drive also came just days after majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri promised supporters that Everton would secure a much-needed striker.
History cannot be allowed to repeat itself this summer, which is why the dynamic of the working relationship between Dyche and Thelwell will be interesting, to say the least, and key to any recovery.
Dyche was used to having control at Burnley, but Thelwell and the club’s recruitment team are expected to still play major roles in Everton’s transfer activity this summer. So too is chairman Bill Kenwright, with a recent report claiming that majority shareholder Moshiri believes that Kenwright’s contacts and acumen will help the club this summer.
Thelwell is a popular figure in the game. It is rare to hear anyone say a bad word about him, and those he has dealt with describe him as knowledgeable, straight-talking, and acutely aware of what he wants when it comes to player recruitment.
But now it feels like a real test is coming his way. Dyche and his squad will return to Finch Farm to start pre-season training next week. If they were hoping to see one or two new faces, they are set to be disappointed.
Instead, all they are likely to find are empty lockers and spare pegs in their dressing room. Thelwell and Everton are not exactly in a race against time, but they certainly need to start making moves if they are to ensure lessons from past mistakes have been learned.
For example, Dominic Calvert-Lewin should not be carrying all hope as the club’s only Premier League-level forward. Gambling on the England international’s fitness again cannot be an option.
Blues boss Dyche wants two new forwards added to his squad this summer, and he must get them. Simple as that. Other areas of the squad must also be strengthened, including at left-back.
So with just six weeks until that first competitive ball is kicked, Dyche and Thelwell have an extensive to-do list to tick their way through. What happens in the next six weeks could quite easily define Everton’s season.
The club cannot endure another shambolic transfer window, which is why you suspect that Thelwell is about to feel pressure like he has never felt before.
