Tuesday 30 June 2015 21:10, UK
After a disappointing 2014/15 campaign, we look at what areas Everton may look to strengthen this summer.
Roberto Martinez’s side ended last season in 11th place having picked up 25 points fewer than in the previous campaign, when they came close to qualifying for the Champions League.
Everton did have the distractions of the Europa League to contend with, although that cannot entirely explain why they scored just 48 times in the Premier League, 13 goals fewer than they managed in 2013/14.
The Merseysiders also let in 50 top-flight goals last season, 11 more than they conceded in the previous campaign, meaning Martinez has problems both up front and at the back to rectify this summer.
Last week the club completed the £4.3m signing of former Barcelona loanee, forward Gerard Deulofeu - but what other areas do they need to address?
Centre-back
Everton struggled defensively last season, particularly in the heart of their back four where the previously solid pairing of Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin barely played together.
Distin and fellow central defender Antolin Alcaraz have now been released by the club, and even though highly-rated youngster John Stones - who Chelsea are interested in, according to the Evening Standard – is more than capable of stepping into the former’s shoes, Martinez cannot solely rely on those two.
That is why the Toffees have been mentioned in the British press this summer with Crystal Palace’s Scott Dann, Manchester United’s Jonny Evans, Augsburg’s Ragnar Klavan and Juventus' Angelo Ogbonna as they look to return to the miserly defensive displays which characterised Martinez’s first season in charge at Goodison Park.
Winger
A common feature of Martinez’s teams is his use of two wide men to help supply crosses for a lone front man, with the Spaniard having the likes of Aiden McGeady, Steven Pienaar, Kevin Mirallas and Deulofeu to occupy those key roles on the flanks next season.
However, with Mirallas interesting Monaco and several Serie A clubs - who can offer the Belgian the chance to play in the Champions League - Deulofeu is likely to be utilised in the 'hole' next season, and with Pienaar making only nine league appearances in the previous campaign, Everton must surely be looking to sign another winger this summer.
And some of the names being linked in the British press with a move to Merseyside are Real Madrid’s £14m-rated Russia international Denis Cheryshev, Borussia Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa and Hull City’s Ahmed Elmohamady, who the Tigers value at £10m.
Striker
Perhaps Everton’s biggest concern last season was the form in front of goal of frontman Romelu Lukaku, with the 22-year-old on target on only 10 occasions in the Premier League following his club-record £28m move from Chelsea in July.
The powerful Belgium international also had little support to help ease his attacking burden after back-up forwards Arouna Kone - who missed most of the first half of the campaign - and Steven Naismith netted just eight top-flight goals between them. Everton managed a paltry 1.2 league goals per game all season.
If reports in the British press are to be believed, though, the Toffees have been keeping close tabs on a number of strikers in recent weeks as speculation regarding Lukaku's own future on Merseyside intensifies, including Chelsea’s Patrick Bamford, Watford’s Troy Deeney, Fulham’s Moussa Dembele and Lorient’s Jordan Ayew.
