View: Everton must sell Bernard to free up vital summer funds
Bernard appears to be on borrowed time at Goodison Park, and Everton would be making the right move by selling the Brazilian at the end of the season.
The Liverpool Echo reported this week that the 28-year old was expected to be sold this summer, having had a January departure to Dubai collapse at the 11th hour.
The former Brazil international has only featured for the Blues nine times in the Premier League this season, having only started on three occasions [WhoScored].
As Everton chase a place in Europe ahead of next season, Carlo Ancelotti is expected to seek a squad revamp in the summer, with “two or three” players set to move to Merseyside.
Farhad Moshiri will likely provide funds for Ancelotti to use as he sees fit, but shifting some of the club’s highest earners would also allow for more financial freedom in the transfer market.
According to Spotrac, an online sports contract database, Bernard currently sits top of Everton’s salary chart, joint with defender Yerry Mina.
Taking into account the fact that Bernard joined on a free transfer when his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk expired in 2018, it stands to reason that Everton would have paid him an exorbitant salary in order to beat out other interested parties.
Everton don’t benefit from having someone in their squad on such a high wage unless that player is someone who directly contributes, and having fallen down the pecking order under Ancelotti, Bernard certainly doesn’t.
The 28-year old has little over a year left on his contract with the Toffees [Transfermarkt], meaning that this summer is the perfect time for Everton to cash in.
Should Everton wish to enhance their squad this summer and challenge for domestic and continental silverware next season, Bernard needs go so that Ancelotti can put his wage budget to better use.
The Italian can also then take advantage of his departure to bring in a new winger, hopefully introducing someone younger, quicker and more hungry to succeed to the squad.
In other Everton news, Rio Ferdinand has showered praise on “fave” Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin.