Everton have been one of the Premier Leagues most active clubs in this year’s transfer window. With spending being around £100m, manager Ronald Koeman is looking to close the gap between the Blues and last season’s top five teams, setting a top four finish as their target.
The club have been methodical with their purchases, creating strength in depth across the entire squad. This is something that has arguably been lacking in recent Everton squads.
The signing of Jordan Pickford has filled a position in the squad that has been under scrutiny since Tim Howard’s departure. A £30m price tag is a deal that Everton fans will not complain about considering it is for a potential England number one. Pickford stood out in a struggling Sunderland side making 135 saves last season being bettered only by Burnley’s Tom Heaton – his shot stopping ability is something that will surely benefit Everton.
Everton have also strengthened along the back four with the signing of free agent Cuco Martina. A player Koeman worked with at Southampton will most likely play at Right Back in rotation with Mason Holgate due to the lengthy lay off period for Seamus Coleman. Everton’s acquisition of Michael Keane, another future England prospect again shows Koeman’s intentions to build and develop a squad with youthful players alongside experienced older figures such as Jagielka and Williams. Keane expressed his desire to play for the Blues despite attracting attention for other top Premier League clubs.
Keane stated:
“I feel like this is a great place to come and continue my development as a player.”
Everton’s signing of Ajax captain Davy Klaasen from Ajax for £24m adds to Everton’s creative depth in midfield. With Barkley’s possible move away from the club as well as his groin injury meaning he will miss the start of the season, Klaasen is likely to figure in Everton’s new look attacking quartet.
Everton sold Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United for £75m with the potential to rise. Gerard Deulofeu also returned to Barcelona for £10m
These deals balance out Everton’s spending and along Everton have added to their attack depth. Malaga’s Sandro Ramirez joined after his buy-out clause was met scoring 14 goals in last season’s La Liga campaign. Sandro has played on Everton’s Right Wing assisting Wayne Rooney in a friendly match in Tanzania.
They have signed Henry Onyekuru who will spend a season on loan at Belgium side Anderlecht.
Wayne Rooney’s return to the squad on a free transfer adds to Everton’s attacking depth. Rooney has the potential to regain form lost playing out of position for Manchester United, scoring twice so for in Everton’s friendly fixtures. He can also provide youthful Everton players coming into the squad such as Tom Davies with experience and be a figure head for the squad.
Despite Koeman spending around £100m Everton’s transfer activity does not seem to have concluded with the Toffee’s showing a keen interest in signing Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson with a £40m offer being rejected. Everton are rumoured to better this offer.
Everton’s transfers since Koeman’s arrival have added depth and quality alongside youth and experience. Koeman has shown a clear desire to restructure the squad and improve on his successful first season on the Merseyside. The question is, how will the new look Everton hold up in their Premier League and Europa League campaigns?
Written by Dom Holt.
