Everton's summer transfer window has been a whirlwind of activity, with a flurry of arrivals and departures amidst the looming pressure of the Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) deadline. While the search for new owners continues, the Toffees have been busy strengthening their squad, but is the job done?
The PSR deadline on June 30th spurred the club into action, prompting a wave of signings to address lingering financial concerns. Five new faces have already joined the ranks: Tim Iroegbunam, Jack Harrison, Iliman Ndiaye, Jesper Lindstrom, and Jake O'Brien. This proactive approach has seen Everton become one of the most active clubs in the league, utilising the deadline to resolve financial issues and accelerate their transfer business.
However, despite the busy start, the club faces a number of challenges ahead. The tight financial landscape has limited their options, with permanent deals often involving deferred payments. This has restricted the pool of available players, but Everton are confident in the quality of their signings, particularly the young and promising talents like Ndiaye, O'Brien, and Iroegbunam.
Pre-season results have also raised concerns. Despite the influx of new faces, a string of disappointing performances has highlighted the lack of depth in certain positions, particularly defence and central midfield. The absence of several key players due to injury has further exposed these vulnerabilities.
The priority now is to get players back fit and bolster the midfield, especially after the departure of Amadou Onana to Aston Villa. While Iroegbunam has impressed since arriving from Villa, additional midfield reinforcements are deemed necessary.
Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips is being considered as a possible loan signing, bringing much-needed experience to the squad. Another name in the frame is Habib Diarra, the talented attacking midfielder from Strasbourg. However, a move for the 20-year-old France youth international would require a substantial transfer fee.
Everton's decision on Dele Alli's future is also pending, with his return to full training awaited. The club's pursuit of Leeds United's Wilfried Gnonto has stalled, with their focus now shifted to other attacking options.
With a full-back contingent deemed sufficient, the club is evaluating the possibility of offloading Mason Holgate, while Neal Maupay is also available should the right offer come in. The future of Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains uncertain, with interest in his services but no concrete offers on the table.
Despite the frantic transfer activity, the Toffees have a lot of work to do before the new season begins. They face a difficult task in maintaining the momentum of their early window business and ensuring a squad capable of competing in the Premier League. With the final month of the window approaching, the question remains: will Everton be able to fill the midfield void and bring in the reinforcements needed to propel them forward?
