Everton endured a thoroughly disappointing 2017/18 season, despite ultimately finishing in 8th position. However, it was meant to be a season where the club closed the gap to the top 6, not extend it further.
Sam Allardyce may have guided the Blues away from a potential relegation dogfight, and despite his style of football, Big Sam received praise for his work on Merseyside. However, he didn’t really what the club was about, and his dismissal was met with unanimous pleasure in the blue half of the city. His replacement, former Watford manager Marco Silva, is one that has excited a number of fans. Paired with new Director of Football, Marcel Brands, the two will need a successful transfer window to bridge the gap to the top 6.
Having not completed any deals as of yet, Everton remain linked with a host of players in what is a hugely important couple of months for the club. Transfer target no.1 seems to be Portuguese defensive midfielder William Carvalho. The Porto man has been touted for a move to the Premier League for a number of years, and now could finally be the time we get to see that happen, with Porto declaring that he will be allowed to leave this summer.
Another position Everton will look to strengthen is left-back. Espanyol’s Aaron Martin and Paris FC’s Thomas Delaine have been linked with a move to the club, but favourite to be the successor to Leighton Baines is the highly rated Kieran Tierney of Celtic, with the Blues alleged to have made a £25m bid for his signature.
Further up the pitch, wingers Hirving Lozano and Andre Carrillo are both being rumoured to be open to a move to the Blues. Both have indirect links to the club, with Lozano currently plying his trade at PSV, Marcel Brands’ former club, and Carrillo featuring for Watford last year under Marco Silva. Lozano in particular would excite Blues’ fans. The Mexican star was in superb form in Eredivise last season, bagging 17 goals and 11 assists in 29 appearances. West Ham’s Marko Arnautovic has been linked too.
Wayne Rooney looks set to leave the club this summer after a disappointing second half of the season, with MLS outfit D.C. United the likely destination. He will headline a group of departures as Brands and Silva look to get rid of the dead wood in this Everton squad.
Davy Klaassen has been linked with a move to Besiktas in Turkey, although it is being rumoured that the former Ajax captain wants to stay and fight for his place under the new management.
Ramiro Funes Mori and Joel Robles are two players that have long fallen out of favour with the Everton fans; partly due to injury but also due to the superior players in front of them. Oumar Niasse has also been linked with a move away from the club.
It promises to be a very important summer for Everton, as Silva and Brands look to rebuild and close the gap to the likes of Arsenal and city rivals Liverpool.
Written by Dan Walker.
