Graeme Hanna

Sat 29 April 2023 18:10, UK

Relegation from the Premier League is likely to trigger a cut-price fire sale of Everton’s best players, according to a Daily Mail report by Dominic King.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jordan Pickford, Amadou Onana, James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite were all referenced as probable transfers in the Toffees fall into the Championship in the coming weeks.

Sean Dyche’s side are currently stranded in 19th place in the table ahead of the must-win clash against Leicester City on Monday 1st May.

If the worst-case scenario does happen at Goodison, there will be widespread cuts enforced across the club including a significant overhaul of the squad.

“A fire sale will be necessary and men such as Calvert-Lewin, Jordan Pickford, Amadou Onana – who is the subject of interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle – and James Tarkowski will be likely candidates to be sold, as will Jarrad Branthwaite, a promising young defender who has been on loan at PSV Eindhoven.”

Running out of time and hope

The squad will be unrecognisable compared to now if the Toffees fall into the Championship but the more immediate worry will be the overall health of the club and the need for stability, especially with all that the new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock entails.

The lights are still on at Goodison Park, so to speak, but for how long?

Dyche faces the unenviable task of lifting his team after the demoralising destruction handed out by Newcastle United on Thursday.

That was a night that started so well, on and off the pitch but the floodgates opened eventually. Next up, is the visit to fellow strugglers Leicester as Everton approaches the last chance saloon. Just five games remain in order for this proud, traditional club to retain its top-flight status. The next loss could be fatal.

Not only are they lacking goals, but they are also running out of time and hope.

In other Everton news, Ex-player backs Anthony Gordon as fans rage at Goodison tunnel footage after loss to Newcastle.