Rafa Benitez joined Everton as the club wrestled with Financial Fair Play during the summer transfer window, to leave Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend as his marquee arrivals.
Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri had pumped millions into the Goodison Park squad in recent seasons. But their past overspending on players who have failed to deliver and difficulties selling others on for profit caught up with the Merseyside outfit this year.
Moshiri spent around £450m in a bid to see the Blues close the gap to the Premier League’s top six. Yet come the end of the summer, Benitez had a total outlay of the £1.5m spent on Gray, while Townsend, Salomon Rondon, Asmir Begovic and Andy Lonergan joined for free.
Gray and Townsend may have arrived on Merseyside to little fanfare, but have proven key to Benitez’s plans. Some of those the Spaniard axed have also failed to reach great heights.
8. Lonergan – Experienced depth for Everton in training
Lonergan completed a last-ditch transfer to Everton in August to offer Benitez some added depth in goal. The 38-year-old joined the Toffees on a one season contract after teenager Harry Tyrer sustained an injury in training. Joao Virginia also joined Sporting Lisbon on loan.
The Preston-born shot-stopper was never likely to play regularly ahead of Jordan Pickford or Asmir Begovic. But his experience has so far only offered Benitez depth during training.
7. Bernard – A high wage Benitez had to offload
Everton backed Marco Silva in his first window at the Goodison helm in 2018, with Bernard someone of high desire. Sky Sports noted the Portuguese coach coveted the Brazilian, who had left Shakhtar Donetsk at the end of his contract.
The Toffees responded by giving Bernard a £120k-a-week contract, but he struggled to be essential in royal blue. So much so that Benitez allowed him to leave a year before his deal was due to expire.
Benitez will feel Bernard has vindicated the call with his bright start at UAE side Sharjah FC fading. His form suggesting the 29-year-old would have seen out his terms on the fringes.
6. Rondon – A very slow burner in royal blue
Like Lonergan, Rondon joined Everton at the end of the summer transfer window to offer Benitez extra depth. The Venezuelan arrived on Deadline Day to support Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, but injuries thrust the 32-year-old into the limelight.
Unfortunately, Rondon arrived on Merseyside having not enjoyed a pre-season and would struggle for fitness. So, when Benitez had to throw his former Newcastle United favourite in at the deep end, he sank.
It took Rondon until his 12th appearance – 11 in the Premier League – to score his maiden Everton goal. He had started seven matches by that stage and scored after 663-minutes.
5. Begovic – Pickford’s understudy by lack of funds
Begovic joined Everton knowing he would be Pickford’s understudy, but has failed to keep the England international on his toes. His presence gave Benitez an alternative during the Blues’ Carabao Cup ties, but the Bosnian will only feature in the league if Pickford is out.
4. Kean – Flashes but little spark since Everton farewell
Everton thought they signed a rising star of Italian football when Moise Kean joined in the summer 2019 transfer window. They paid Juventus an initial £25m, but he re-joined the Serie A side this August on an initial two-year loan carrying a £24m obligation to buy.
Kean left Everton having scored four goals in 39 games in all competitions, and spent last season away on loan. He has since shown flashes of skill, but often of little spark for the Old Lady as a backup option under Massimiliano Allegri at the Allianz Stadium.
3. Rodriguez – A vital summer departure for Benitez
James Rodriguez held up Everton’s late summer transfer plans whilst moves to AC Milan, Porto and Basaksehir fell through. He eventually joined Qatari side Al-Rayyan at the death.
His exit was vital to remove a £200k-a-week salary from a bloated wage bill. The playmaker also had a strained relationship with Benitez while at Real Madrid, per the Liverpool Echo.
Rodriguez has not shown Everton what they are missing since, from a player who admitted he joined last year to reunite with ex-Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti, via ESPN. The 30-year-old has only cut a peripheral role at Al-Rayyan and saw red in October after a furious outburst.
2. Townsend – A career revived after Everton transfer
Townsend joined Everton on a Bosman transfer after leaving Crystal Palace at the end of his contract. His final year at Selhurst Park suggested little would come of the 30-year-old on Merseyside, but he proved doubters wrong.
The winger offered three goals and two assists in his first seven Premier League games in royal blue. He has remained a leading figure of Benitez’s attack, but his output dried up.
Had Calvert-Lewin not sustained an injury that would keep him out for months, Townsend may have been even more effective.
1. Gray – Winger justifies Benitez’s longer-term admiration at Goodison
Benitez only spent a fee on one player during the summer transfer window to bring Gray to Everton. He later noted the winger was a player he had tracked since Gray was at Leicester. And the forward has since justified the Spaniard’s long-term admiration at Goodison Park.
Gray burst out of the gates with three goals in his first four Premier League games with Everton. He has continued to offer a dynamic presence and often been the Blues’ biggest attacking threat from Benitez’s wings.
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