‘Everton in unprecedented situation after reveal proves conspiracy theorists wrong’
Everton are facing a highly-unusual situation for a club of their stature amid new developments that have quashed rumours about their move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton enjoyed a revival under David Moyes in the second-half of last season, and they eventually finished 13th in the Premier League as they bid farewell to Goodison Park on a high.
The coming months will represent the first summer transfer window with The Friedkin Group at the helm for Everton, following their December takeover, and the club are looking ahead to their first competitive season at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium, which has a capacity of over 52,000.
Former club chief Keith Wyness recently revealed to Football Insider that he believes there will be around 10 new signings made as Moyes looks to overhaul his squad in the coming months, so it promises to be a summer of real change for all connected to the Toffees.
Everton have work to do on the transfer front as fixture announcements quell stadium demand rumours
Everton may well be planning to make major adjustments to their squad this summer, but so far they have brought in just one player, with playmaker Charly Alcaraz signing from Flamengo after the buy option was activated in his loan deal.
They are also anticipating the exits of Abdoulaye Doucoure, Ashley Young, Joao Virginia, Asmir Begovic, Mason Holgate and Neal Maupay at the end of their respective contracts on 30 June, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin also looks set to depart the Toffees, and four loanees have returned to their parent clubs.
The Times (18 June) report that Everton are experiencing “an unprecedented situation for an established Premier League side,” with just 14 senior players on their books as it stands, and two of those, James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, are currently out injured.
A fresh announcement from the Premier League has also quashed suggestions from “conspiracy theorists,” according to the Times’ report, with the Toffees set to play their first competitive game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in the second gameweek of the new campaign, after “rumours had swirled” that the club had requested to play their first three matches of the season away from home in order for work to be completed at their recently-opened ground.
Everton take on newly-promoted Leeds United at Elland Road on the opening day of the season, before facing Brighton & Hove Albion at their new home on the banks of the River Mersey on August 23.
Everton to utilise loan market to make high-profile signings
Football Insider verdict
Everton are clearly in pretty desperate need of new arrivals soon, with their pre-season schedule set to get underway in just under a month’s time on 15 July against League Two side Accrington Stanley.
Former scout Mick Brown has recently revealed to Football Insider that Man City stalwart Kyle Walker is a target for the Toffees this summer, and he has Walker has “no way back” at the Etihad Stadium following a recent loan spell at AC Milan, according to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 319 | 6 | 23 |
Walker would be a good capture for the Toffees as they quickly try to bolster their squad with talent and experience, and so would his fellow City outcast Jack Grealish, with Football Insider recently revealing that the 29-year-old would rather join Everton than Newcastle this summer, owing to the potential to be a regular starter under Moyes.
Both of those signings would obviously be loan deals, due to their respectively sizeable wages at the Etihad Stadium, but each would significantly improve Moyes’ squad ahead of a new season in which the Toffees will hope to push up the table into the top-half in their new stadium.