Gary Lineker sends message to Everton after Premier League survival secured ahead of Leicester City
Gary Lineker has sent a message to Everton after they secured their Premier League survival on the last day of the season against Bournemouth.
The Toffees edged out Leicester City in the race to beat the drop thanks to a nervy 1-0 victory over the Cherries at Goodison Park on Sunday (28 May).
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s winning goal helped the Toffees end the season on 36 points in 17th position – two points above the Foxes and five above Leeds United.
Taking to Twitter in reaction to the dramatic finish to the season, Leicester City fan Lineker took to Twitter to offer his congratulations to Sean Dyche’s side.
“Absolutely gutted, but glad it’s Everton,” he wrote.
“Have a lot of love for that great football club. Congratulations.”
Too close for comfort
A club of Everton’s size and magnitude doesn’t belong anywhere near the Championship, so the fact that their top-flight status has come down to the last day of the season for two years running is an utter shambles.
Credit has to go to Sean Dyche and his coaching staff for navigating this relegation battle so successfully, but the hard work only begins now.
The first-team squad is not fit for a top-ten Premier League season as it stands, and numerous transfers need to be completed for this to change.
Although the club sold Anthony Gordon for £45million in the January transfer window, it is yet to be seen how much of this money can be used this summer amid the club’s current fight against FFP.
The Toffees need multiple signings in attack, a creative midfielder and further depth at full-back, as well as warding off any offers for the likes of Amadou Onana and Jordan Pickford.
The 2022/23 season was too close for comfort, and Everton now need to ensure that this worrying trend is reversed, and fast.