Everton boss Frank Lampard not anticipating major squad changes this summer
Everton manager Frank Lampard has revealed that he will not be overhauling the squad this summer in an interview with the Liverpool Echo.
The Toffees finished 16th in the Premier League last season and dramatically avoided relegation, leaving fans hoping for major changes to the squad.
However, Lampard told the ECHO on Tuesday morning (19 July) that while there will be new arrivals soon, there will be a similar core to the squad.
“I’m not talking about ripping it up and starting again,” he said.
“We have some really talented players and I think we can change the face of it, hopefully, with the work we do on the training ground and the recruitment we do over the next couple of weeks.”
Disappointing, but expected
It is immensely disappointing news for Everton fans, but Lampard’s comments reflect the reality of the club’s situation.
He is hamstrung by the financial situation at Everton and is trying to operate in the transfer market with one hand tied behind his back.
The reality is that if he wants the money to properly overhaul the squad, there will have to be a firesale of Everton’s stars and even that may not be enough.
Richarlison’s move to Tottenham netted the club £60million according to Sky Sports, which dug the club out of a short-term hole but was not enough to fund new signings.
Instead, Lampard can look to work with what he has and look to get a similar tune out of the squad that Carlo Ancelotti managed to.
There is bags of talent there, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin now putting his injury struggles behind him and Allan being a solid midfielder on his day.
Anthony Gordon is naturally the jewel of the squad and Lampard showed at Chelsea that he can build a successful squad around young, homegrown players.
While the news may be disappointing, do not write the new season off yet.