Rebuild: A big job this summer

Hi all, it's been a while since I posted anything, after the season ended I just thought I'd be writing for the sake of writing. Overall, the season was decent, I do wonder where we would have finished if Moyes would've come in earlier as he actually sets up to win games, I know he didn't win them all but I think he won some not even the most staunch Evertonian thought we would.

So the summer hit and we knew there were a whole host of players that were seeing their loans end or contracts expire. Much of the talk amongst fans was who would we keep, for me, none of the loans really pulled up any trees except Carlos Alcaraz and there was a time when I thought we wouldn't take the option on his and sign him on a permanent deal but we did eventually and I am excited to see what he brings next season.

Other than Alcaraz, the player most Everton fans wanted to see extend his stay is Idrissa Gana Gueye, he was great for us last season, was in his first stint with the club which saw him get a move to PSG and he has been since he returned. I was very doubtful he would stay however, with his career not being too much longer I thought he might leave Everton for a final massive payday elsewhere but news came out that he agreed terms to stay basically and when he came back off his holiday it would be signed and sealed but it has emerged there may be a stumbling block, I don't know how true it is but TFG don't want to give someone of his age a 2 year deal, maybe a 1 year one with a further year as an option but again, I am not privy to these type of details, not sure there are many outside the club except those close to the player, that are aware either. Let's wait and see, I really hope it happens, he would leave a big hole if he left.

His good friend Abdoulaye Doucouré did leave the club, or will on June 30th, when his contract expires. Again, we are led to believe the club wanted to keep him on but with reduced terms and the player thought he was worth more, same with Ashley Young, he was also offered a deal but decided to decline it, not sure if that was because of a reduced terms or contract length or a combination of both but two very experienced players have left the club, let's hope Gana Gueye doesn't make it three. We'll be forever grateful to Doucouré for his goal on the final day a couple of seasons ago but although he has a great engine on him but his passing leaves a lot to be desired and in the last season or so his goal involvement seemed to drop off.

The saga of Dominic Calvert-Lewin seems to be over, the belief is Moyes wanted him to stay and if he had that would be one less headache for the manager and the new recruitment team to have to worry about but it seems the player will be leaving after many years at the club, yes, we will not be getting a fee for him but we bought him for a mere 1.5 million as a youngster and if for nothing else, that goal against Crystal Palace kept us in the Premier League, yes, it's a team game and there were 2 goals scored by Michael Keane and Richarlison prior to Calvert-Lewin's but without that goal (special mention to the delivery by Demari Gray too) we'd have probably gone down, maybe knowing we had to win, the game at Arsenal which followed the Palace game would've gone a different way but none of us expected to get anything there and that's how it panned out so again, that goal/win against Palace was monumental.

Goalkeepers Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia both left the club, still no news on Seamus Coleman and Michael Keane and the loanees Jack Harrison, Jesper Lindstrom & Armando Broja were not required to stay on by the manager, things could change, we all know what football is like but that is the understanding right now.

We call it "silly season" when we get to the summer because 'links' to all sort of players get made, not just Everton but all teams, most are non starters but with some, there is something there. Just this weekend it was announced that Fulham's Kenny Tete has told them he doesn't want to extend his contract and talks have taken place and agreement seems to have been made with Everton. We will see post June 30^th is that one happens. Tete is 29 and has a few injuries but the Fulham fans on social media, well the ones I have seen anyway, seem unhappy he is leaving and as I said, the club wanted him to stay too as they offered him a new contract so they think he's decent. The right back position has been an issue for us, Coleman can't stay fit, and as previously mentioned, as of today, we still don't know if he is remaining at the club in a playing capacity at least. Nathan Patterson just can't nail down a spot, injuries haven't helped but when he does get a chance I guess he's not taking it. Young played there for us and was OK and as we know, pretty much since Moyes came back to the club, Jake O'Brien has played there, and did really well, he reverted to his natural position of centre back towards the end of the season due to James Tarkowski's injury. First let's see if Tete signs and if he does, how he gets on.

As we have done for many seasons now, we need so pace in the team, more specifically on the wings, I think this summer the focus will be on a centre forward and a winger, a right winger as we have N'diaye and McNeil who can play off the left, not overly pacey but it's their position. Maybe those two will chop and change with Alcaraz as the number 10.

That's it I think guys, what do you think are our priorities this summer, we probably need another 5/6 (more would be great) I think.

Thanks for reading, check out my links http://linktr.ee/EvertonViews