Everton have shaken up their squad over the summer transfer window. This is despite the club’s ongoing financial issues and ownership saga, leading many to believe that it would be a quiet window. A clear focus on youth has rejuvenated an ageing squad. The Toffees will look to bounce back from what was a tumultuous season off the pitch to send Goodison Park off in style. Last Word on Football brings you our Everton predicted lineup for the upcoming Premier League season.
A New Look Everton Predicted Lineup for the Upcoming Premier League Season
Everton’s Outgoing Transfers
It was expected that Everton would have to sell some players in this transfer window to meet the Premier League’s ‘Profit and Sustainability’ guidelines. The sale of Lewis Dobbin to Aston Villa is said to have all but cleared the club, helping them avoid a third points deduction in 12 months.
Central midfielder Amadou Onana soon followed Dobbin to The Villans for £50 million. This deal has likely funded some of The Toffees’ incoming transfers. The other major departure was centre-back Ben Godfrey who has headed to Atalanta in the Serie A.
Read More: Ranking The Top Ten Everton Premier League Signings
Some wages were also freed up as Andre Gomes and Dele Alli, two of the club’s highest earners, were not given contract renewals. The latter is reportedly still training with the squad as he looks to regain the form that saw him become one of England’s best talents. Arnaut Danjuma has also returned to Villarreal after his loan deal expired.
Other departures have been rumoured with Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin dominating the headlines. Branthwaite has been heavily linked to Manchester United despite The Toffees keeping firm that he will be staying this transfer window. The England international was a critical factor in Everton having the 4th best defence in the Premier League last season.
Calvert-Lewin rumours have slowed down after it looked like a move to Newcastle United was all but certain. With Youssef Chermiti impressing in the preseason and Beto showing flashes of class last season, his departure would not be as devastating to the squad compared to previous transfer windows.
Everton Incoming Transfers
The Toffees have recruited a crop of young players. No signing is over 24 years of age as Dyche shifts his focus to the future after seemingly steadying the ship and avoiding relegation in the past few seasons.
The first signing of the transfer window was 21-year-old Tim Iroegbunam, a tall and physical central midfielder who signed from Aston Villa. Inexperienced in the top flight, Iroegbunam will likely have to wait some time to get his chance in the first team.
Iliman Ndiaye is the heir apparent to Abdoulaye Doucoure. Dyche favours a lone striker with a ‘second striker’ or attacking midfielder behind them. This role will suit Ndiaye perfectly as he looks to reclaim his form from his time at Sheffield United in the Championship. Early on in the season, Dyche may stick with Doucoure to start, but Ndiaye could be the first choice by the season’s end.
Read More: How Jesper Lindstrøm Fits Into Everton’s Attack
The next signing was a winger, Jesper Lindstrøm, who signed on a loan deal from Napoli. The right-footed winger will provide a different look to The Toffee attack that is often unable to get to the baseline on the right side.
Jake O’Brien is a towering centre-back freshly signed from Lyon. The Irish international joined his national captain Seamus Coleman at Goodison Park. O’Brien will rotate through the centre-back pairing of Branthwaite and James Tarkowski, who will remain first choice when fit.
There is still potential for more signings as the squad still lacks depth, namely at the right-back position. Coleman is in his last season and Nathan Patterson has failed to impress in his absences. A right-sided wingback would round out the squad in what is one of Everton’s best transfer windows for some time.
Everton Predicted Lineup
Dyche will stick with his favoured 4-2-3-1. This often shifts to a 4-4-2 in defence with the CAM joining the striker in the press. The lineup is similar to the first choice of last year, with the manager often preferencing experience over youth.
GK: Jordan Pickford
RB: Seamus Coleman
CB: James Tarkowski
CB: Jarrad Branthwaite
LB: Vitaliy Mykolenko
CM: Idrissa Gueye
CM: James Garner
CAM: Iliman Ndiaye
LM: Dwight McNeil
RM: Jesper Lindstrøm
ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
