Everton head into the summer knowing there is a lot of work to do in order to improve for next season.
Supporters endured a torrid campaign in which the club's Premier League survival was in jeopardy until the final week of the season. Spurred on by a fanbase that refused to give up on them, the side just about made it - securing their top flight status with that memorable comeback against Crystal Palace.
While Everton were unfortunate with injuries over the course of the campaign - and have legitimate complaints about several major decisions that went against them - the reality is Frank Lampard and director of football Kevin Thelwell have a major rebuilding job on their hands. Lampard has already spoken of his desire to make his squad more robust - and been clear his initial priority is to keep hold of key players.
One of those is Richarlison, who was asked about his future with Everton in a press conference while on international duty with Brazil. He said: "I’ve already made it clear to the board, I’ve already talked to Lampard too, with my agents and they know what I want... Let’s wait for June." It is, of course, June tomorrow - but the terms of those talks may well take a few weeks before they become public. For the moment, he is still a Blues player.
Based on how the squad currently looks ahead of a busy summer, ECHO Everton writers Joe Thomas and Chris Beesley today discuss the positions they believe Everton need to strengthen as a priority.
Let us know in the comments below if you agree with their choices.
It is crucial the Blues have a stable, reliable partnership
Joe : It is clear Everton need to strengthen the spine of the team with additions needed in both the centre of defence and midfield. This summer is likely to be busy but just how busy will depend on a number of factors - including whether Lampard is forced to reluctantly part with prized assets including Jordan Pickford, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
While they remain at the club I believe sense needs to be made of Everton's defence. Yerry Mina is a solid Premier League centre back who vastly improves Everton when he plays. History has shown, however, that gambling on him being a core figure for next season is a massive risk due to his injury issues.
Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate both impressed in the final months of the season but Godfrey too was hit with injury problems. Michael Keane ended the campaign well after a difficult start to 2022 while Jarrad Branthwaite clearly has huge potential - but may still be in need of first team experience on loan before being able to claim a place in Everton's starting XI.
Key to Lampard and Kevin Thelwell's considerations must be how they want Everton to play going forward - and whether that means playing two or three centre backs - the latter creating the opportunity for Seamus Coleman to also feature.
If this means playing a higher back line then pace to recover is essential. Everton have several defenders whose strength is sitting deep and defending crosses, but if tactics are to become more progressive a new signing is key. Whatever is decided, it is crucial the Blues have a stable, reliable partnership. Simply being able to regularly field the same combination and being difficult to beat would be progress after a year in which so many injuries and self-enforced errors damaged Everton.
I don't think they improve without a new, proven centre back - preferably another leader - who can play 30+ league games and be the rock the rest of the defence is built around. Addressing the centre of midfield is important but, for me, build from the back and go from there.
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The centre of the park but the current midfield remains a muddle
Chris : Everton’s celebrated ‘Holy Trinity’ of Colin Harvey, Howard Kendall and Alan Ball used to win matches – and indeed a League Championship – for the Blues from the centre of the park but the current midfield remains a muddle. Getting things right in the engine room has to be transfer priority number one for manager Frank Lampard and director of football Kevin Thelwell as they prepare for their first summer window.
Carlo Ancelotti, like Lampard also a midfielder himself during his playing days, identified midfield as a key area in what proved to be his only summer in charge at Goodison Park in 2020, bringing in Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure but a couple of years on, the balance still doesn’t look right. Doucoure has produced some sparkling displays at times and provides the team with some much-needed energy but he blows hot and cold and at 29 is he going to get much better?
Allan, who turns 32 in January, probably comes under even greater scrutiny. Still without a goal in 57 games for Everton, there is no tangible output from him in the final third yet he doesn’t seem to be the kind of natural anchor man that the Blues thought they were getting to provide a shield in front of the defence either.
Yet these two remain arguably the Blues best two options in the position. Fabian Delph, another midfielder without a goal for the club, has mustered just 35 Premier League outings over three years so you’d expect the injury-plagued veteran will be let go this summer.
Andre Gomes offers even less off the ball despite what have been scant attacking contributions while home-grown hero Tom Davies spent a considerable portion of the past season on the treatment table. Everton desperately need more dynamism and durability in midfield and while they could do with that in other areas too, their soft centre is surely the natural starting place when it comes to a recruitment drive.
