Everton may move on from Dominic Calvert-Lewin as Sean Dyche transfer plans emerge
Everton are in the hunt for “at least” two new strikers in the summer transfer window which could well mean Sean Dyche may no longer place in trust in one fan-favourite.
The Toffees boss seemed to work his magic on the Premier League final day, managing to keep his side in the English top flight despite having to deal with a number of key injuries over the course of his tenure.
Everton will certainly be looking to ensure that doesn’t happen again, with Dyche heavily reliant on Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi as his tried and trusted attacking setup, given the injuries to fan favourite Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the struggles of Neal Maupay in his first season at Goodison Park.
And according to iNews [7 June], Everton will be targeting the loan market and potential free agents in order to boost Dyche’s squad because of financial fair play, with the likes of Lyon striker Moussa Dembele, mentioned as a potential summer target.
The 70-goal Lyon hitman looks set to leave the club this summer with his contract at the Groupama Stadium coming to a close at the end of the month.
The 26-year-old, who has scored 152 senior goals, including 70 across his four and a half years with the Ligue 1 side, is certainly no stranger to Premier League interest with the likes of Everton, West Ham United and Aston Villa or vying for him.
And given the Toffees’ depleted attacking situation right now, Dembele certainly seems a smart and astute piece of business, but the fact that Dyche is potentially targeting at least two strikers could well mean he is potentially moving from Calvert-Lewin whose constant injury niggles and fitness issue have proven a major cause for concern for Everton in their quest to secure Premier League safety.
Time after time this season, the England international has been absent from first-team selection due to a rotten run of injuries, and it is surely now time the Toffees face the harsh truth that the forward cannot cope with the physicalities of the English top flight.
The England international has managed to get himself fit enough to feature for just 1,175 minutes of Premier League action this season – 17 appearances – and even missed the crucial final-day clash against Bournemouth, which Abdoulaye Doucoure proved the decisive match-winner.
It certainly may be time Everton moved on from Calvert-Lewin and Dembele certainly seems the ideal replacement and reliable fit.
The 26-year-old is an established and reliable goalscorer having scored 70 goals for Lyon throughout his time at the French giants and 152 goals throughout his career at the top level, making him an attractive option for Everton to pursue given their torrid goalscoring record in the Premier League, with just 34 goals scored – the second-worst in the division.
The Everton record in the transfer market has been rather dreadful in recent years but Dyche may well be changing the dynamic at Goodison Park by acquiring Dembele and another suitable scorer this summer which would go a long way to rectifying such a long-standing issue.
Whatever Calvert-Lewin’s immediate future holds on Merseyside, he may no longer be the man Everton fans look to for inspiration.