Everton are back in action on Saturday with a trip to Ipswich Town, but before the Premier League’s return, we asked for your questions about the club.
From Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s future to the latest on the takeover and the club’s position regarding profit and sustainability rules (PSR), Everton correspondent Patrick Boyland takes a look at all the big discussion points coming out of Goodison Park.
Are there any updates on Calvert-Lewin’s situation? — Brett H
Patrick Boyland: I’m not aware of a major breakthrough, Brett. Everton are still keen to sign Calvert-Lewin on fresh terms, but he is yet to commit. My sense is he is keeping his options open before January, when the 27-year-old could sign a pre-contract with a foreign club, and the end of the season, when he will be a free agent.
A move to Newcastle broke down over the summer and others, such as Manchester United, held an interest. There wasn’t much beyond that, though, partly due to the numbers involved. He’ll have more interest if he doesn’t re-sign at Everton, but it’s an interesting period for the striker. He probably has one big contract left in him and needs to get the next step —whatever it is — right given his injury problems.
At some stage, he’ll surely want some security over his future…
When can we expect the takeover to be completed? — Steve M
The general expectation is for completion around Christmas, give or take a few weeks, but this is not cast-iron with so many moving parts.
The process is progressing as expected and nobody foresees an issue when it comes to gaining approval from the Premier League. There is confidence a solution will be found in the New York courts over the ACAP debt. I think the latter could well be more time-consuming than the former.
Will Everton give a name to the new stadium? Or will it be named after the sponsor? — John-Paul F
For now, it’s Everton Stadium. In time, I would expect it to carry the name of the naming rights partner. Everton are using U.S-based Elevate Sports Ventures to lead the search and have already had interest from a number of parties. I still think they’re waiting for the right bidder to come along.
The Toyota Stadium, perhaps?
How is the PSR situation looking? If there aren’t funds to bring in reinforcements, could academy players get a chance? — Toby B
Everton aren’t out of the woods in a PSR sense, unfortunately. They are working through years of heavy losses and carry significant interest-bearing loans, so will need to be careful in January and the summer. It won’t be a case of The Friedkin Group (TFG) coming in and immediately splashing the cash, even if they wanted to.
That’s not to say there won’t be business done, particularly over summer, just that there will have to be a focus on recouping money, too.
The good news: this should be the final year of those PSR difficulties. The new stadium will bring extra revenues and improved commercial deals, creating more wriggle room for spending.
In terms of blooding academy players, that’s very much down to the manager, but there are high hopes for Harrison Armstrong, while under-21 goalkeeper George Pickford is also one to keep an eye on in the coming years. I have heard very positive things about him recently.
Would you expect TFG to get rid of those who have underperformed in commercial performance? — Anonymous U
There is a feeling at Everton that they are more or less where they should be in terms of commercial performance when you consider other factors like league performance. Let’s see if TFG takes a different view.
We’re yet to hear that much about their plans (including big-picture stuff like Sean Dyche’s future, for those asking). They are certainly quieter and far more circumspect than 777 — surprise, surprise — but even as a journalist, I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing.
I believe there is already a focus on how they strengthen at the top of the club, including at board level.
Are the club closer to hiring a replacement for Alex Scanlon? Do we have any idea on the key positions ahead of January? — Patrick L
Hi Patrick. I know they recently advertised for the post (first-team performance analyst) again. The view when he left was they are/were at least one short in that department, so they will want to fill it soon.
As for transfer business, normally the idea is to wait until summer before making more material changes, but we know they explored additional options on the wings and at full-back, so there are two areas of interest.
What’s the plan with Youssef Chermiti and Beto? — Dylan L
We’ve had lots of questions on these two, as well as the striking options in general. There’s excitement internally about what Chermiti and Armando Broja can bring, but first they need to get fit. Given the nature of their injuries (foot for Chermiti and Achilles for Broja), Everton will be cautious over their reintegration.
The feeling is that Chermiti needs regular games to continue his development. If that’s not at Goodison, then it will have to be elsewhere on loan. He’s been very unlucky, as I believe he was down to start some pre-season matches and had impressed.
There’s also a sense that Beto has had to bide his time, with Calvert-Lewin putting a consistent run of games together for the first time in a while, but he remains a work in progress.
Ultimately, they won’t need four strikers because Dyche usually only starts with one.
There was a desire to keep Beto over the summer, but a lot will depend on Calvert-Lewin’s future and how Broja does.
Dele, by the way, had a small setback in his rehabilitation but is back doing light training. He’s unlikely to be back soon and will need to prove his fitness before signing any deal.
Why was signing a full-back not seen as a priority this summer? And would you like to see more of James Garner in that spot? — Skyler L
From what I’m told, Skyler, they knew they couldn’t cover all bases on a limited budget and had to prioritise. The view was they had Seamus Coleman, Nathan Patterson, Ashley Young, Roman Dixon and Garner for the right-back slot, with Vitalii Mykolenko and Young options on the left, and that was deemed sufficient for the time being.
They will be well aware, though, of the need to look at that area next summer with Coleman and Young’s contracts expiring. That means a big season ahead for Patterson and, to a lesser extent, Dixon, as they look to show they can be a part of the picture moving forward.
Patterson had a decent chance of starting the season as first-choice but now needs to put a run together. Garner also looks like a good option there.
What’s the best line-up when everyone is fit? — Daniel G
A great question and I’m still not entirely sure! Is Dyche? I like the idea of Jesper Lindstrom adding pace on the right, but we need to see more from him. Iliman Ndiaye gets a chance as a No 10. Toss-ups at full-back, on the wing and in midfield.
(Tin hat on): Pickford; Garner, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison/Lindstrom, Gueye, Doucoure, McNeil; Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin
If we got a new manager who had a more open style, which players would benefit and which would struggle? — Bryan D
An interesting one, Bryan. Off the top of my head, Pickford, Branthwaite, Patterson, Gueye, Garner, Ndiaye, Harrison and Calvert-Lewin would all be able to play in a more expansive way. Others, too, potentially.
But it’s hard to collectively transition between styles and would undoubtedly take some time.
American here who chose to follow Everton back in the David Moyes era. It’s been such a slog for so long, so what was it like being an Evertonian when the club was in its pomp? — Tim R
I’d love to know, too, Tim! I only have stories passed down from my dad and grandad.
My first season ticket was during Walter Smith’s rather bleak tenure. I grew up with the Moyes teams, who were likeable and more successful, but even then there was a glass ceiling and a slight sense of frustration.
Little did I know what was to follow!
Hopefully, there are better times ahead.
(Top photo: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
