The Premier League season is beginning to wind down but for Everton and Frank Lampard, the pressure remains as the Goodison Park outfit continue their battle to avoid relegation.
Rafa Benitez enjoyed a spirited start to his ill-fated tenure as Toffees coach last year after controversially replacing Carlo Ancelotti. The former Liverpool boss claimed four wins and two draws over the Spaniard’s first seven games in charge to sit just two points off the top.
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Everton remained in fifth on goal difference and within a win of leading the standings until October 15. Yet their campaign unravelled, leading owner Farhad Moshiri to fire Benitez in January and hire Lampard as his seventh permanent manager since first investing in 2016.
Moshiri tasked Lampard with guiding Everton clear of the Premier League relegation zone, but results are still unconvincing. Falling into the Championship will be catastrophic as the Daily Mail report several stars would still earn basic top-flight salaries in the second-tier.
Several high-profile names will also likely seek moves away from Merseyside without any Premier League football on offer. So, with that in mind, here is a potential line-up Everton can field without signings if Lampard fails to guide the Toffees clear of the relegation zone.
Pickford out, Begovic in goal as Everton activate contract clause
Jordan Pickford jumped ship from Sunderland to join Everton for £25m rising to £30m in 2017 following their relegation. He has since established himself as England’s first-choice goalkeeper, and will be loath to risk his status ahead of the World Cup in Qatar this year.
The 28-year-old has also attracted interest, with The Telegraph reporting Tottenham have looked into his availability. Additionally, Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas noted Everton have discussed cashing in on Pickford. So, he may be one of the first to go with relegation.
That would leave Lampard needing a new shot-stopper, and could elect to keep Benitez’s summer signing Asmir Begovic. The Bosnian left Bournemouth and penned a one-year deal to join the Toffees, who have an option for a further 12-months they would surely take up.
Patterson’s big break in new-look Everton defence
Relegation from the Premier League could prove beneficial for another of Benitez’s arrivals at Everton in Nathan Patterson. The £12m, rising to £16m, January transfer from Rangers struggled for minutes after moving to Merseyside before a possibly season-ending injury.
Dropping down to the second-tier could see Patterson replace captain Seamus Coleman in a new backline. With Yerry Mina interested in leaving, per Torcedores, Jarrad Branthwaite could join the Scotland ace beside Ben Godfrey and recent £17m arrival Vitaliy Mykolenko.
Davies offered Everton lifeline, Gbamin finally establishes himself
Lampard will likely face a major midfield reshuffle if he cannot keep Everton in the Premier League, as well. The Sun report the Toffees are ready to sell Allan, who Corriere dello Sport add Lazio are interested in reuniting with Maurizio Sarri in the summer transfer window.
Abdoulaye Doucoure may also follow Allan in leaving as he, like Pickford, jumped ship after Watford’s relegation for Everton. The Toffees may also likely lose Donny van de Beek when his loan from Manchester United ends, while TEAMtalk note Dele Alli could already be sold.
Those four departing for pastures new could offer Jean-Philippe Gbamin a chance to finally establish himself. Marco Silva’s £25m transfer from 2019 only featured eight times for the Blues across all competitions before the Ivorian joined CSKA Moscow on loan this January.
Tom Davies is another who can land a second chance in the second-tier as the 23-year-old returns from season-ending hamstring surgery. He has not featured since November, but could benefit from dropping down a division after losing a starting role in recent seasons.
Gordon stays, but Everton endure attacking exodus
Anthony Gordon has been a star of Everton’s troubled season and has the character to pull his side clear of the drop. Lampard will be loath to let that leave, and pair him with Andros Townsend – another with a season-ending injury – and Demarai Gray in the Championship.
Gordon, Townsend and Gray has the potential to be a formidable attacking line behind a striker in the second-tier. And Everton will need their dynamic runs more than ever, with Lampard likely to endure an attacking exodus with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison.
Reports by UOL note Richarlison is already planning to quit Everton – who will want €80m (£66.5m) – in the summer with Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle interested. The Sun also claim Everton will look to sell Calvert-Lewin for £60m after his injury-hit term.
Their exits will leave Everton with two realistic options to play at striker from those already at the club. Either Lampard relies on another Benitez deal in Salomon Rondon, or he turns to youth and offers Ellis Simms a chance to show why he can be Everton’s centre-forward.
Possible Everton XI in the Championship: Begovic (GK), Patterson, Branthwaite, Godfrey, Mykolenko, Gbamin, Davies, Gray, Townsend, Gordon, Simms
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