View: Everton must deal with contract situation, with eight players on expiring deals
Everton have a huge contract dilemma they must deal with as soon as possible with eight first-team nearing free transfers in the summer of 2023.
A lot has been made of Everton’s dire financial situation as they look to recover from years of reckless spending in past transfer windows.
The club has been hampered by several unsuccessful big-money signings in the past, like Gylfi Sigurdson, Yannick Bolasie, Cenk Tosun and James Rodriguez.
However, they now face an even bigger problem with a number of first-team players now on the last year of their deals, with their contract talks needed to avoid the club losing up to eight players for free the next summer.
- Abdoulaye Doucoure
The Mali international joined the club from Watford in 2020 for a reported £20m and has made 68 appearances for the Toffees since moving to Goodison Park.
He has been one of the better signings of the Farhad Moshiri era, and has been a reliable performer since moving to the Merseyside club.
At 29 years of age, the club will have to act fast and decide what the future hold for the former Granda midfielder, who still has a lot to offer.
2. Yerry Mina
The Colombian international joined the club from Barcelona four years ago and has had his Everton career somewhat hampered by injury.
He has made 91 appearances in four years, averaging a measly 23 games a season, failing to ever nail down a regular run in the Everton team due to his injury problems.
Still a useful defender when fit, the Toffees will want to recoup as much of the £27million they paid for him in 2018 if they are to part ways with the enigmatic centre-back.
3. Seamus Coleman
The Everton captain is a difficult case and will require deep thought from the club when deciding what to do with a player who has been a loyal servant to the club.
Coleman first joined the club from Sligo Rovers in 2009 and after a loan spell at Blackpool in 2010, has been a reliable figure in the first team for well over a decade now,
However, last season his decline was clear to see, with an evident lack of pace and a steep downturn in performances.
He has now made 328 Premier League appearances and has cemented himself as a legend of the club, however with his contract expiring next summer, now may be the best time to let the 33-year-old full-back depart the club.
4. Tom Davies
The 24-year-old came through the ranks of the Everton youth academy and has gone on to make 157 appearances for the club.
However, with rumours stating the club are looking for midfield reinforcements and with the English midfielder only making seven appearances last term in a season plagued by injury, the club may look to recoup any transfer fee for Davies now before the opportunity passes.
5. Allan
Combative midfielder Allan joined the club from Napoli in 2020 for £21m and has made 57 appearances since moving to Goodison Park
He, like Doucoure, has been one of the better signings that Everton have made in recent years however, at the age of 31, the possibility of any sell-on potential is rapidly decreasing.
Everton must make the decision in extending the Brazlian’s contract knowing that they would most likely be sacrificing receiving a transfer fee for him in the future.
6. Andros Townsend
The former Tottenham winger joined Everton on a free transfer from Crystal Palace last summer and had a bright start to life in Merseyside, quickly scoring three goals and providing two assists in his opening games for the club, including a stunner against Burnley on 13 September.
Unfortunately, injury slowed down his lightning start to life at Everton and he never really was able to reclaim his starting position, especially once Rafa Benitez left the club.
He ended the goal with a respectable seven goals and four assists in all competitions and it is likely that the former England international will see out his contract.
7. Salomon Rondon
Like Townsend, Rondon joined Everton as a free transfer under the Benitez regime.
However, the Venezuelan powerhouse has not adapted to life at Everton well, struggling to make a name for himself in the team.
If the former West Brom and Newcastle striker is not sold this window, it is hard to envisage him getting a new contract before next summer.
8. Asmir Begovic
The former Stoke City and Chelsea goalkeeper joined the club from Bournemouth as part of a trio of free transfers last season.
He has established himself as the number two keeper in the squad and like Townsend and Rondon, it is likely the Bosnia and Herzegovina shot-stopper will also see it the remainder of his contract.