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Which Everton players should stay and go?

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Michael Keane of Everton collides with Nathan Redmond of Southampton during the Premier League match between Everton and Southampton at Goodison Park on May 5, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Michael Keane of Everton collides with Nathan Redmond of Southampton during the Premier League match between Everton and Southampton at Goodison Park on May 5, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) /
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HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND – APRIL 28: Theo Walcott of Everton competes for the ball with Christopher Schindler of Huddersfield Town during the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Everton at John Smith’s Stadium on April 28, 2018 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /

So now we come to Everton’s forwards.

This is of course an area of the team that has attracted a lot of attention this past season.

Romelu Lukaku, after his move to Manchester United in the summer, was obviously going to be very difficult to replace.

Everton didn’t replace him and the Blues attack has been largely toothless and anaemic during the campaign.

The Toffees laboured to create chances and score goals and this combined with an alarmingly leaky defence resulted in Everton’s dreadful start.

The Blues strike power improved after the January transfer window when new manager Sam Allardyce bought in Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott.

Both did contribute to a significant improvement in Everton’s attacking threat.

Tosun, after a period out of the team immediately following his signing, proved he could be a productive centre-forward scoring five goals in the latter part of the season.

Walcott’s pace and movement gave Everton something they hadn’t possessed before his arrival. He also contributed 3 goals and 3 assists.

But after these two there was not much more attacking threat in Everton’s play.

In January Allardyce let Ademola Lookman go to Germany on loan.

The youngster who cost Everton £11 million when he joined from Charlton, was not getting a chance in the first team despite the Blues lack of forward options.

But it has perhaps proved a mistake as Lookman has been in fine form at RB Leipzig since his loan move. He’s scored 5 goals and created 3 more.

I hope whoever is manager will bring him back and give him a chance in the team next season.

With his pace and wing play on one side and Walcott on the other flank, the Blues might actually have an attack that would really frighten the opposition.

Yannick Bolasie was injured for the first part of the season and when he did finally return to the team he had a very inconsistent season. To be honest he’s a player I don’t see having a long-term future at Everton.

This also applies to Kevin Mirallas. There was a time when he seemed a potentially excellent player but injuries and loss of form have seen him drift to the periphery of the squad.

A disastrous loan spell back in Greece has not enhanced his reputation and I feel he should certainly be leaving Goodison Park this summer (although I don’t know who’d buy him).

Next we have the increasingly intriguing situation with Henry Onyekuru. The Blues signed the Nigerian forward last summer and then promptly loaned him to Anderlecht for the season.

He then suffered a serious knee injury, which he’s only just recovered from. The Blues were hoping he was going to be included in Nigeria’s World Cup squad and then get his work permit.

But according to the Liverpool Echo, because Anderlecht have not played him, he apparently won’t be able to secure that work permit to join Everton and will have to stay in Belgium for at least another year.

Whatever the truth of these allegations Onyekuru is an unknown quality in tems of the Premier League. But he was scoring goals and playing well and he would add another pacy option up front.

Last but I don’t think least is Oumar Niasse. The Senegal striker has had a truly bizarre time at Everton.

More from Prince Rupert's Tower

Ostracised by Ronald Koeman and without even a first-team locker (apparently) he came back into the team to score twice against Bournemouth  and give Everton a win that temporarily saved his persecutor from the sack!

Niasse has scored 9 goals and made 2 assists this season, actually not a bad return for a part-time substitute. He does offer plenty of workrate and a physical threat but with Tosun now available, I think Niasse should be leaving Everton this summer.

There might be a sentimental temptation to keep him at Goodison, he seems a likeable, plucky character, but that’s not enough reason to retain his services.

I personally think the Blues should be looking for a much more mobile centre-forward to play with Lookman/Onyekuru and Walcott, (or others if Everton sign them), a little like Liverpool have with Roberto Firmino.

Tosun would then offer a more direct threat coming off the bench. Anyway that’s my thoughts!

Next: Will Blues new scouting head make a difference?

Well that’s a comprehensive look at the Blues current squad. How many of these players will be pulling on a royal blue shirt come the opening day of the new season in August..?

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