Everton transfer update: Sean Dyche wants full-backs amid Seamus Coleman contract situation, West Ham United man a target
Sean Dyche wants to bring in full-backs this summer regardless of whether Everton captain Seamus Coleman signs a new contract, i News reports.
The Irishman was instrumental for the Toffees boss this season until his campaign was ended by injury in the 2-2 draw at Leicester on 1 May, and his current contract expires this summer.
The 34-year-old’s wonder-strike to win the game with Leeds on 18 February won the club’s goal of the season after the final-day escape from relegation and he is now “likely” to be offered a new contract to remain at Goodison Park.
Regardless of Coleman extending his stay Dyche reportedly wants to target new arrivals at the full-back position, having closed out the season amid an injury crisis that also saw Nathan Patterson, Vitalii Mykolenko, loanee Ruben Vinagre and stand-in Ben Godfrey all sidelined.
The i report states that Ben Johnson of West Ham is of interest this summer.
Problem position
Patterson and Mykolenko formed half of what was the strongest defence in the Premier League for a time under Frank Lampard early in the season.
But with Conor Coady already gone from that unit it could be that the only remaining member of the starting line-up 12-months later ends up being James Tarkowski.
Dyche’s assessment of the Scottish right-back suggested he doesn’t see him as anything more than a back-up option at this point and he has been injury-prone in his time on Merseyside.
The Toffees boss took to using Godfrey and fellow centre-back Mason Holgate out of position at either full-back position late in the season, with poor results, suggesting he sees his options as inadequate even without injuries.
Johnson at West Ham is only two years Patterson’s senior but has more Premier League experience, and the versatility to play across the back line.
It feels like the 23-year-old alone wouldn’t be sufficient to bolster the injury-hit area of the squad, so multiple signings would make sense.
Either way, a continued Everton stay for Coleman is surely on the cards irrespective of his evergreen showings on the pitch this season, as his influence in the dressing room remains valuable whether he is fit to feature or not.