Everton being relegated once felt like a morbid dream, yet as the remaining Premier League games come and go, this twisted fantasy is fast becoming a reality, and it could have a major impact on transfers out of the club.
With Burnley continuing to win and Frank Lampard struggling for results, the Toffees face the very real and dangerous possibility of dropping down to the second-tier for the first time in decades, and the outcome could be disastrous for the club.
With one of the highest wage bills in the Premier League, Everton going down will be a huge financial disaster for the club, and in this feature, we look at seven players the Merseyside club will struggle to offload if they are relegated to the Championship.
Yerry Mina
As Everton’s highest-paid player, Yerry Mina is an obvious candidate to not only leave Goodison Park, but a player who the club will struggle to offload.
Whilst the £120,000-a-week titan is a good player, Everton could find themselves in a position where they will have to take a massive financial loss if they are to offload the Colombian international, who no doubt will not want to stick around if the Blues go down to the Championship.
Allan
A player who joined Everton when Carlo Ancelotti was manager, it must be crazy for Allan that the club that once sold him a European dream could now be relegated, and the Brazilian might struggle to find a new club.
Another high earner and one with international prestige, interested parties might not be keen on signing Allan if the former Napoli star doesn’t agree to lower his wage demands, something that many Everton players will have to do in the event of relegation.
Andre Gomes
Regardless of Everton’s league status, Andre Gomes looks set to leave the Premier League with the Portuguese international having another forgettable season for the Toffees.
And if Lampard’s side go down, offloading Gomes might become a big problem given his hefty wage package and lack of quality performances over the past few months, making the midfielder a hard player for Everton to ship.
Jean-Philippe Gbamin
To be honest, you forgot Jean-Philippe Gbamin was even still on Everton’s books, with the midfielder currently out on loan with CSKA Moscow until the end of the season.
Given the situation in Russia, the Ivorian is unlikely to remain with the club beyond this campaign, and for Everton, selling Gbamin, a player who joined for £25m and has barely featured since, could arguably prove to be the club’s hardest deal to conclude this summer.
Alex Iwobi
It would be an understatement to say that Alex Iwobi is a player who divides opinion amongst Everton fans, especially this season. And if the Toffees do go down, the Nigerian international could hard to find a suitor for.
With high wages and Iwobi joining Everton for a high transfer fee, the versatile winger could remain on Merseyside next season if the Premier League giants are doomed to second-tier football.
Richarlison
Everton’s club-record signing and someone who looks set to leave the club regardless of what happens in the coming weeks, Richarlison has been a consistent performer in the league in recent years, though relegation could complicate matters.
For the Brazilian, his next move will be regarded as the biggest of his career yet, and going down with Everton would severely lower Richarlison’s transfer fee and value, something that could stop the striker from landing his ideal dream exit from Goodison.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
A player in an almost identical boat to Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s time with Everton is coming to an end, though relegation could only complicate matters for the England international.
With a £50m price tag according to reports, clubs will be looking for a lower transfer fee if Everton go down, something that could hinder Calvert-Lewin’s chances of leaving if it means the striker making less money away from Merseyside.
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