Five players who are simply not good enough for Everton next season

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Everton have had a mixed season and the Champions League looks beyond them so planning can start for this summer.

Everton manager Ronald Koeman

The Toffees improved dramatically on last season but like last term are still drawing too many games to kick on into those Champions League spots.

Ronald Koeman has got Everton playing some good football from a solid base but they are seven points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City having played a game more.

With time running out, the Blues will probably have to make do with Europa League football next season.

But their comfortable position in the Premier League means Koeman can start planning ahead in terms of recruitment and getting rid of some of the deadwood at Goodison Park.

Here are five players who are not good enough for the Toffees next season.

Everton’s Joel Robles looks dejected

1) Joel Robles

The 26-year-old goalkeeper is a nervous presence in the Everton backline and while he does pull off the occasional brilliant save, Koeman will undoubtedly be scouring Europe for a true number one this summer.

Joe Hart has been linked and would be a marked improvement on the Spaniard who has failed to truly establish himself as a long-term answer to succeed Tim Howard despite being preferred to Maarten Stekelenburg for the second half of the season.

Everton’s Maarten Stekelenburg

2) Maarten Stekelenburg

Which brings us on rather nicely to another player who should be shipped out of the club this summer, their other ‘keeper and Dutch international Stekelenburg.

His best performance for the Tofffees came against Manchester City earlier this season when he saved two penalties and kept out two more goal-bound efforts from Sergio Agüero and Kevin De Bruyne to earn his side a 1-1 draw.

Unfortunately, though, he is just as prone to an error or two and like Robles, is not good enough to be the club’s long term number one.

Enner Valencia

3) Enner Valencia

Valencia has had his moments for the Toffees after his underwhelming signing on a last minute season-long loan from West Ham back in August.

But he is rarely used by Koeman and has just three goals in 18 appearances this campaign, mostly as sub.

Deemed surplus to requirements by Slaven Bilic at West Ham, Valencia looks certain for a future elsewhere when his loan expires at the end of the season.

Koeman and Aaron Lennon

4) Aaron Lennon

Aaron Lennon has lost his way at Everton with just 13 appearances – and one goal – this season.

You would think the 29-year-old still has a few good years left in him as a pro but clearly Koeman doesn’t fancy him and the pacy former Spurs man could be on his way out of Goodison this summer.

Everton’s Arouna Kone celebrates scoring their fourth goal

5) Arouna Kone

Kone only has two goals this season, which sounds terrible.

But in actual fact he has a record of one goal every three games given the lack of action he has been limited to under Koeman.

With the likes of Romelu Lukaku and even Valencia ahead of him in the pecking order, Kone will be on the lookout for a new club come the end if the season.