Pundit issues shattering Everton claim after new double injury blow
Everton will be in another relegation battle this season, according to Paddy Kenny.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper claimed losing Richarlison means Frank Lampard has a weaker squad than he did last term.
The Brazil forward joined Tottenham in a deal that could reach up to £60million earlier this summer (1 July).
Everton have replaced him with Dwight McNeil who moved from Burnley for £25million last week (28 July).
His former Burnley teammate James Tarkowski is the Toffees’ only other permanent signing this summer while left-sided player Rúben Vinagre has joined on loan from
Lampard’s side lost 1-0 to Chelsea in their first game of the Premier League season on Saturday (6 August).
Tarkowski’s partners at the back Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina were forced off with injuries at Goodison Park.
As quoted by the Liverpool Echo after the game, Lampard admitted both players could be “out for a while” after Godfrey fractured his leg while Mina suffered an ankle injury.
Asked whether Everton will struggle again this season, Kenny told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild: “The way things are going, yes.
“They actually look worse than they were last season with letting Richarlison go. They don’t look any stronger.
“They obviously only just stayed up last season, so I can see them struggling to survive this season.”
Everton only stayed up in 2021-22 by four points, securing survival with a dramatic 3-2 win over Crystal Palace in their penultimate game of the season.
The Blues are next in action next weekend (13 August) when they visit Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa.
In other news, Everton went on a Saturday transfer mission for a striker and £20million will seal the deal.