Jarrad Branthwaite and Amadou Onana gone, four new signings in – Everton potential XI v Brighton
Sean Dyche could have as many as four new faces in his Everton starting lineup for the opening Premier League clash of the season against Brighton.
The Toffees will host the Seagulls in the curtain raiser on August 17th at Goodison Park, with the manager keen to improve on last season’s 15th place finish – which would have been 11th if not for eight points being deducted from their total.
But with a busy summer window underway and lots of business expected to be done at the club, there are questions about how the starting lineup could look come 2pm when the team gets announced in two months time.
Everton set for new look spine this summer
In goal Jordan Pickford will still be in the stick unless something shocking happens between now and then, with many hoping he’ll be returning as a European champion.
Ahead of him though there could be big changes, with Jarrad Branthwaite tipped to move to Manchester United. The Reds are set to lodge a second bid for the 21-year-old [Daily Mail, 22 June] and if he moves on he’ll need replacing.
The Toffees have identified Hull star Jacob Greaves as a “tailor-made replacement” should he go, and 23-year-old could be the an to start the season alongside vice-captain James Tarkowski at the heart of the defence.
Vitalii Mykolenko has done more than enough to keep his place as the starting left-back, even with Ashley Young penning a new deal, but at right-back the club have made a move for Man City star Issa Kabore [AfricaFoot, 19 June] and he should get the nod if they get that deal over the line.
Amadou Onana to leave Everton this summer
There is likely to be changes in midfield too, with gangly star Amadou Onana expected to leave the club amid growing confidence from Aston Villa that they can get a deal done [TEAMtalk, 15 June].
But the Toffees have planned in advance for his exit by bringing in Tim Iroegbunam from Villa in a deal worth £9million, and the 20-year-old can fill in with similar attributes.
He’ll likely be accompanied by more familiar faces to Blues fans, with James Garner and Abdoulaye Doucoure still expected to be at the club and pushing for their place to start ahead of Idrissa Gueye.
The wings will look the same too with Dwight McNeil occupying the left flank and Jack Harrison returning to the club for a second loan spell from Leeds United.
Up front the club want to keep Dominic Calvert-Lewin but he is a wanted man with Newcastle making a push for his signature [The Athletic, 22 June]. Should he move on, Everton already have a £30million striker on the books in Beto and it may be the best option is to give him a chance to prove himself rather than splashing out on another new face.
In other Everton news, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s stance on a new deal at Goodison Park has emerged amid interest from Newcastle.
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