Transfer Centre

What is Everton's top priority for the summer transfer window?

By Andrew Delaney, Reporter | 13 June 2023

Ahead of the summer transfer window opening on Wednesday, Sports Mole looks at the priority for Everton in the transfer market over the next few months.

After a second consecutive season fighting relegation despite spending more money than most sides in world football, the first thing that needs rectifying at Everton is the situation with the board and the ownership of the club.

The board were not present for the final 10 home games of the season, and their position now is untenable, further illustrated by the fact that the first chant which emanated from the Goodison crowd after survival was secured was "sack the board".

After the unsubstantiated claims of physical assault were leaked all over the press, there is now no way back and the Everton support have been extremely vocal in their wishes for them to step down with immediate effect.

New ownership has also been on the agenda, and that could affect their business in the transfer market, making it another absolutely huge issue that needs addressing.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin injury prone and Neal Maupay seemingly on his way out after a disastrous 12 months on Merseyside, signing a reliable goalscorer has got to be top of the agenda for the club.

Sean Dyche was not granted any signings in January despite Everton spending long periods of the season as the lowest scorers in the league, but unless at least one attacker is brought in, the club will find themselves in the same position again this time next year.

Other positions need urgent attention too, most notably at full-back, as all five of Everton's players in that position were injured for the final day outing against Bournemouth.

Everton's Seamus Coleman is stretchered off after sustaining an injury on May 1, 2023 © Reuters

Seamus Coleman has been largely dependable but injury and age is now getting the better of him, Nathan Patterson is still young and also seems to often struggle with injury, while Vitalii Mykolenko does not look cut out for this level.

Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate were both tried in that position, but after woeful performances, Everton had to use midfielders Dwight McNeil and James Garner as their wide defenders on the final day.

The centre of defence is also an issue because the question has been raised of who will partner James Tarkowski, given that Yerry Mina, who is out of contract, and Conor Coady, who is on loan, are set to depart.

Mina is one of the players who will leave, but his hefty wages should free up some room for Everton to spend in the summer window.

Dele Alli, Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin have all been out on loan and are almost certainly going to depart over the next few months, but Tom Davies has been offered a contract extension.

With the investigations ongoing about Everton's financial activity, another summer of shrewd spending looks likely, even if they offload Amadou Onana with big clubs circling the Belgian.