Everton have a big challenge on their hands to make their new signings gel. Tottenham and Liverpool have failed to make it work at previous attempts.
Everton have a huge opportunity on their hands this summer, they are spending big and bringing in players who on paper – will improve the team.
Getting them to gel immediately may not be so simple, especially when there is a huge contributor departing, with Romelu Lukaku heading for Manchester United.
Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have found out to their cost in recent seasons that a summer spending spree in similar circumstances can end in disaster.
In 2013 Tottenham were tasked with replacing Gareth Bale, and like Everton, went about buying players first before cashing in.
Only two of the seven players bought still remains at the club, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela. The likes of Paulinho, Vlad Chiriches, and Etienne Capoue flopped, and manager Andre Villas-Boas was out of a job within months.
A year later Liverpool sold star man Luis Suarez to Barcelona, and went about a spending spree which saw them land Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic and Rickie Lambert among others.
Brendan Rodgers could not re-model his side quickly enough and the pressure mounted, and he was sacked 15 months after Suarez’s sale.
Exit… Romelu Lukaku
At Everton there is not the same expectation as there was at Liverpool when the Reds were rebuilding after finishing in second place in 2013/14, but replacing top goalscorer Romelu Lukaku will be far from easy.
Wayne Rooney is an unknown quantity at this point, and while Davy Klaassen should be an excellent signing, Eredivisie stars have a patchy success rate in the Premier League.
Koeman’s job is as secure as any in the top flight at present, but Everton should not think because they have signed several players they will shoot up the league table next year.
Lukaku will be a big loss, and they are fighting to stand still as a result, with a sustained challenge at the top four an added bonus.
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