Youssef Chermiti makes point to Everton boss Sean Dyche after what he did
Everton striker Youssef Chermiti’s brace in the Toffees’ 3-3 draw with Sligo Rovers should give Sean Dyche food for thought ahead of the new season.
Coming off the bench at half-time as one of 11 changes to the Blues side in Sligo, Chermiti spearheaded a late revival from 3-1 down, scoring in the 84th and 86th minutes to rescue a draw at The Showgrounds.
The Toffees were 2-0 down at half-time before Mason Holgate pulled a goal back early in the second period, but another strike from the hosts left a pre-season defeat looking likely until Chermiti’s double.
Getting off the mark early in pre-season, Chermiti will be hoping for a successful second campaign at Goodison Park – he’s yet to score a first-team goal for the club after being used sparingly in 2023/24.
Youssef Chermiti may be first-choice striker at Everton next season
Not only has Chermiti staked an early starting claim with two goals in the Toffees’ first pre-season friendly, he’s also seemingly the only striker on the books without a question mark over his future.
Fellow Portuguese striker Beto, who like Chermiti, only arrived last summer, has already been linked with a move away, and the club could cash in following significant interest from Serie A side Bologna [Sky Sports, 18 July].
Neal Maupay could remain out of favour after being loaned out to Brentford last season, but the French striker told talkSPORT that he’ll return to training after the Bees didn’t active their option to buy.
The biggest question hangs over the Toffees’ current number nine, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is in the final 12 months of his contract at Goodison Park and is reportedly hesitant to sign a new deal [TEAMtalk, 10 July].
Should Calvert-Lewin at the very least depart, which could be likely after the collapse of Dan Friedkin’s takeover of the club, Chermiti’s early pre-season form suggests he may be ready to step into the breach.
In other Everton news, an update on Andy Bell and George Downing has emerged after the Friedkin Groups’ takeover collapse.
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