No team in the whole of the Premier League conceded as many mistakes that led directly to opposition goals as Everton did in 2021/22. At least, with Chelsea travelling to Goodison Park to kick off the new season in less than two months’ time, Frank Lampard could have an all-new centre-back partnership to hang his hat on.
James Tarkowski is, for all intents and purposes, an Everton player already. According to the Liverpool Echo, The Toffees will wait until his contract at Burnley officially expires on July 1 before unveiling the twice-capped England international.
Tarkowski’s free-agent status frees up funds for Everton to make further defensive additions. The Mirror believe that Rodrigo Becao, a 6ft 3ins Brazilian plying his trade in Serie A with Udinese, has soared right to the top of Lampard’s summer wishlist.
Everton have reportedly ‘sounded out’ Becao, though it remains to be seen if they are willing to meet Udinese’s £17 million asking price. 6ft 3ins and excellent in the air, Becao would pave the way for the injury-prone Yerry Mina to go.
A new centre-back partnership at Everton
But while some things change, some things just stay the same. The eternally-overworked Seamus Coleman looks set to begin a new season as Everton’s first-choice right-back once again, with the Merseysiders making next to no progress in their pursuit of a long-term replacement. In fact, they’ve been linked with far more left-backs than they have right-backs.
Rennes flyer Adrien Truffert is ‘flattered’ by Everton’s interest. The swashbuckling Sergio Gomez of Anderlecht is another option but, according to The Athletic, a Toffees side under serious pressure from Financial Fair Play are unlikely to splash out a sizeable fee on a left-sided defender just a few months after investing £19 million in the promising Vitaliy Mykolenko.
Further forward, one of Everton’s highest earners was expected to depart after an underwhelming 2021/22 season. Interest in Allan appears to have dried up, however, and the former Napoli ace suggested recently that he expects to stay. At least, with Jean-Philippe Gbamin returning following an impressive loan spell at CSKA Moscow, Allan will have some competition in the centre of the park.
Gbamin appears to have put those long-standing injury issues behind him at last, starting 11 out of 12 CSKA matches. What’s more, he provides more thrust and agility than Allan does in the engine room.
New-look midfield
A midfield of Allan/Gbamin, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Conor Gallagher looks impressive on paper; A ball-winner, a ball-carrier and a goalscorer.
According to talkSPORT, Lampard is confident his Chelsea connections will result in Gallagher joining on loan, even if he would likely miss the opening day clash with his parent club. Gallagher scored more goals than everyone in Everton’s squad bar Richarlison last term.
Ah, Richarlison. The biggest, most unwelcome, problem facing Lampard and new director Kevin Thelwell. Even the most ardent Everton fanatic could hardly blame Richarlison – one of the club’s few consistently impressive performers – if he wishes to leave a side that have underperformed since his 2018 arrival from Watford.
Richarlison, put simply, deserves better than another relegation scrap. Especially with a World Cup on the horizon. According to The Sun, the fleet-footed Brazilian has told Everton he wants to leave.
“I’ve already made it clear to the board,” he said, rather ominously. “I’ve already talked to Lampard too, with my agents. They know what I want. Let’s wait for June.”
The Mail believe that the £20 million-rated Emmanuel Dennis has been identified as a potential successor. Like Richarlison, he’d arrive from Watford. And, like Richarlison, he is a tricky, skilful player at his most effective when drifting in from the left. Dennis showed glimpses of real, top-level talent at a dreadful Watford side and even had Eric Cantona, Jurgen Klinsmann and Andrey Arshavin for company at one point.
Dennis would certainly be a more ‘like-for-like’ Everton successor than, say, Dwight McNeil of Burnley.
Calvert-Lewin stays?
According to The Telegraph, Tottenham are pushing hard for Richarlison, and could offer Harry Winks and Lucas Moura in exchange. Winks would be well received, offering Everton a much-needed injection of quality in possession. A paintbrush amid the powertools. Lucas might not play ball, however, given that he has his heart set on a return to Sao Paulo on the very near future.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has also attracted interest. But he looks increasingly likely to stay put after Everton priced Newcastle out of a move (The Telegraph). Arsenal also appear to be looking elsewhere now.
The question is, even with Calvert-Lewin staying and with Harry Winks, Rodrigo Becao and James Tarkowski potentially on their way, is the Everton that could take on Chelsea in August any better than the one who survived relegation by the skin of their teeth in May?
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