Ellis Simms’ departure for Coventry is the first significant exit from Everton beyond those whose contracts expired at the end of last month.
The 22-year-old will return to the Championship, where he scored seven goals for Sunderland before his loan spell was cut short at the turn of the year. Sunderland were among the clubs interested in securing the striker’s services but his move to the Midlands was secured after Coventry reached a breakthrough in talks this week.
The move was publicly confirmed on Friday night for an undisclosed fee, though it is understood the deal could reach a value of up to £8m.
Simms’ departure had looked likely this summer, particularly once the widespread interest in him became clear. He will not be the first player to leave the club either - though much of the further business will be dependent on whether clubs are willing to meet Everton’s demands, rather than the Blues simply being open to certain players leaving.
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The next player whose exit is expected to be officially confirmed is Ishe Samuels-Smith. The 17-year-old is expected to be announced as a Chelsea player in a deal with a value of around £4m. Samuels-Smith has not made a senior appearance for the Blues but would have become the youngest player to have done so for the club had he come off the bench in the Carabao Cup defeat at Bournemouth in November. Frank Lampard named him as a substitute on that occasion and the left-back later caught the eye of Sean Dyche, who placed him on the bench for the Premier League game against Fulham at Goodison Park in April. The starlet joined Everton aged nine and has played for England through the age groups, including the Under-17s.
There is known to be interest in a host of other players who Dyche is set to make a decision upon in the opening weeks of pre-season. Andre Gomes had a successful loan spell at Lille last season and Paulo Fonseca, the French side’s boss, is keen to take the 29-year-old back for the upcoming season. Gomes has 12 months left on his contract and while Dyche could do with increasing the depth of his playing squad it is likely Everton would consider serious interest in him. Jean-Philippe Gbamin is another of the central midfielders who went out on loan season despite having arrived at Everton for a significant layout. The 27-year-old played for Trabzonspor in Turkey last season and his agent has been vocal about not seeing a future on Merseyside for the player.
Everton will listen to offers for Mason Holgate, who could move on a loan deal and has attracted interest from clubs including newly-promoted Sheffield United. Dyche did use the 26-year-old on several occasions following his appointment, playing him in central midfield and at full-back on both sides of the defence, but the club is willing to sanction a move for the player. Another of the first team players who has attracted interest through the first month of the transfer window is Demarai Gray.
The 27-year-old is being monitored by Premier League rivals and a side from Saudi Arabia as he continues to impress with Jamaica in the Gold Cup. Like Amadou Onana, who has admirers in the Premier League including a West Ham United side that tried to sign him last summer and which is soon to become flush with the proceeds of its sale of Declan Rice, any serious offer for Gray would require careful consideration. Both players are in and around Dyche’s first team and their departure would weaken a squad with little depth in quality. But any sale could provide a massive boost to Everton’s ability to fund a wider overhaul of the squad and so could represent the taking of an initial step backward in order to help the club move forward.
Everton’s younger players have been in demand and there is a willingness to do business - as shown by the Simms and Samuels-Smith situations. One starlet who is on the wishlist of others for a loan move is Tom Cannon. The striker impressed on loan at Preston North End in the second half of last season, scoring eight Championship goals. Preston are keen to secure his return for the upcoming season but Dyche will consider him for the senior squad first and, with Simms having been sold, Cannon is currently in a strong position to make his case for remaining at Finch Farm.
