Everton transfer news: Tammy Abraham and Viktor Gyokeres liked as Sean Dyche plans overhaul, 2023 approach already made
Sean Dyche wants to overhaul his Everton side with an emphasis on “pace, power and energy” after avoiding relegation on the final day, i News reports.
The Toffees boss oversaw a crucial 1-0 win against Bournemouth to shut the door on Leicester and stay in the Premier League, with work now planned in the transfer market.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s latest injury absence once again highlighted the need for a new goalscorer, with both Tammy Abraham and Viktor Gyokeres liked as striker targets but inflated fees possibly making them hard to capture.
Gazzetta dello Sport reported on 9 March that the Toffees were in the “front row” for Abraham, and it has now emerged from i News that Everton already made an approach to Roma over the former Chelsea star during the January transfer window.
The report says: “i understands Dyche intends to overhaul the club’s squad and rebuild the team with an emphasis on pace, power and energy. He will hope Everton move quicker and with more conviction than they did last summer when Frank Lampard grew frustrated at the length of time it took to secure key deals.
“The need for a goalscorer is particularly pressing. Only Wolverhampton Wanderers scored fewer times than Everton, whose miserly record of 34 goals in 38 games was inflated by the remarkable 5-1 win at Brighton.
“They are long-term admirers of Coventry‘s Viktor Gyokeres while i understands that contact was made with Roma over the availability of striker Tammy Abraham in January. But whether either target is realistic given likely inflated prices is another matter.”
Anticipation
Twice Everton have escaped a relegation disaster. The first time they didn’t take sufficient action to avoid risking it again so it is crucial they do so the second time around.
The million dollar question throughout the summer will be what money there is for Dyche and Kevin Thelwell to work with in the transfer market, in light of the Premier League referral for an alleged profit and sustainability breach.
The MSP Sports Capital investment which is thought to be imminent should ease matters slightly, but the belief is that is primarily geared towards securing the completion of the new stadium.
As last summer’s spending has supposedly irked Premier League rivals, despite the £60million sale of Richarlison to Tottenham last June being followed up by Anthony Gordon’s £45million departure to Newcastle in January, there are sure to be plenty of eyes on the activity at Goodison Park.
But Everton simply must find a way to add attacking threats. It was a situation that everyone could see as the wheels were coming off for Frank Lampard but still no positive moves came off during the winter for him or Dyche.
Abraham would tick plenty of boxes as a Calvert-Lewin replacement or stand-in, but the crucial matter will be spending power.
Neal Maupay proved to be anything but the right fit, so this time around the correct profile of player is absolutely vital.