Everton trio Mason Holgate, Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey face uncertain futures at Goodison Park. Boss Sean Dyche is considering allowing their transfers this summer.
That is according to The Guardian, which reports that Dyche is looking to rebuild the Blues’ team after guiding the Toffees to safety. He kept Everton in the Premier League on the final day with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth. But it marked back-to-back escapes from relegation.
Yet the ever-lasting uncertainty surrounding the makeup of the board at Goodison Park has put Dyche’s plans on the back burner. But once the Toffees’ new hierarchy is in place, they will turn to renewing Everton’s defensive options given Yerry Mina and Conor Coady’s exits.
Everton could tear up Dyche’s defence in the transfer window
Everton have sent Coady back to Wolverhampton Wanderers after opting against using the club’s £4.5m option to buy the loanee. While the Toffees will release Mina at the end of his contract on June 30. Yet Holgate, Keane and Godfrey still do not enjoy guaranteed futures.
Along with the return of Jarrad Branthwaite from his successful loan spell at PSV Eindhoven in 2022/23, the quartet are Dyche’s only recognised centre-backs for the 2023/24 term. Yet Everton have not ruled out selling Holgate, Keane or Godfrey in the summer transfer sales.
Injuries could put Godfrey on the chopping block this summer
Keane has been at Everton since July 2017 when Ronald Koeman raided Dyche’s Burnley in a £25m, rising to £31m, deal. The 30-year-old also regained a key role in their backline this March after Dyche replaced Frank Lampard. While his contract does not expire until 2025.
Holgate, likewise, is under contract until June 2025 but he seldom featured throughout the 2022/23 season. The 26-year-old only made nine appearances across all competitions, with eight in the Premier League. He further only featured in four fixtures after Dyche took over.
Godfrey, meanwhile, suffered a fractured fibula on the opening day of the term last August and only returned at Christmas. He would regain a regular role but also ended the term on the sidelines again. The 25-year-old sustained yet another serious injury at the end of April.
Having suffered two substantial issues in the same season, Dyche may feel Everton have to look into replacing Godfrey in the summer transfer window. But the Toffees’ £20m signing from Norwich City in October 2020 can still fulfil the potential Andros Townsend envisages.
“He’s got massive potential,” Townsend told the Daily Mail in September 2021. “But seeing him on a day-to-day basis, he really is the real deal.”
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