Not long after signing a new contract, Marcel Brands, Everton’s director of football, unveiled his plan to help push the Blues back to the top.
Brands told the clubs’ official website, Everton will look to strike a balance to continue the team’s improvement under legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Brands admitted the Blues would seek to improve while alighting on a balance between finance and recruitment.
There will be room in the squad for Academy prospects, too, confirmed Brands, who added:
"“Nothing makes you more happy than when the fans are happy and proud and that should be the goal of everyone at Everton.”"
While Tom Davies is currently the only academy graduate playing regularly with the first team, there are others who seem close to a breakthrough.
Winger Anthony Gordon has impressed in his appearances, including a start in a Merseyside Derby. Currently, he is on loan at Preston North End. Forward Nathan Broadhead has been in and around the first team and was on the sub’s bench in the win against Arsenal. Gordon has been at the club since he was 10 and Broadhead since he was 11.
Part of Brands’ remit was reducing the size of Everton’s bloated squad and reducing the wage bill. So far, Brands has done a pretty decent job as large wage bills such as Wayne Rooney and Davy Klassen have moved on.
Over this summer, wages will be cut even more as Theo Walcott, Yannick Bolassie and Muhammed Besic will all leave after the end of their contracts. Bernard, Cenk Tosun and JonJoe Kenny are all on the market.
Moise Kean remains an interesting case. According to the Liverpool Echo, reports from Italy have indicated Juventus would be willing to make a player exchange plus cash for Kean, who started out at the Turin-based club.
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According to Italian-based paper Calciomercato, Ancelotti has said yes to a swap deal sending Kean to Juventus with Adrien Rabiot coming to Goodison Park.
Rabiot, a cultured, yet powerful French international midfielder played under Ancelotti at PSG. The report adds Everton want central defender Merih Demiral included in the deal.
Ancelotti has said he wants to bring in a few more players this summer, especially if Everton are in Europe.
According to the Daily Mail, a right-back is on Everton’s radar, Norwich’s Max Aarons is top choice, but Athletico Madrid’s Kieran Trippier has also been offered to the Blues.
There is a quality, Brands and Ancelotti will be looking for in any addition to be brought in to the club and that’s pace. Especially on the right-wing. Ancelotti and Brands are looking for a left-footed right-winger, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey seems to tick all the boxes and reports have linked him to the Toffees. With Farhad Moishiri likely to back Brands and Ancelotti in the market, it could be another exciting summer for the Blues.
What do you think? Is the Kean for Rabiot swap deal a good one for Everton?