Everton: Frank Lampard midfield priority revealed as £10.8m Chelsea man considered

It goes without saying that Everton manager Frank Lampard will want to strengthen the side this summer to avoid a similar turn of events that unravelled last season. Midfield is an area that the gaffer is actively looking to rejuvenate and he has a few names in his mind. Harry Winks, Conor Gallagher and Billy Gilmour are names that continue to circulate in the media.

When Lampard took over in January, one of the first requests as a manager he had was to bring a deep lying playmaker to the team. Everton managed to sign Donny Van de Beek on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season. The Dutchman was in fine form and was proving to be a smart choice until he fell prey to injury during the final stretch of the season.

Lampard’s midfield shortlist consists of players like Winks, Gallagher and Gilmour who are capable of playing in a similar role that was executed by Van de Beek in this Everton side. With the arrival of Yves Bissouma at Tottenham, the future of Winks in North London looks bleak.

The Toffees have already held talks with Winks and it seems that he is one of the top players on the list. Lampard’s midfield priority is to bring in a deep lying playmaker who can easily operate with the ball at his feet and rotate the ball around.

Everton boss Frank Lampard likes the profile of Billy Gilmour

The chances of Gallagher leaving Chelsea are slim as Thomas Tuchel is set to give him a chance to impress in pre-season and make him part of his plans. Gilmour on the other hand, has returned from a loan spell from Norwich City. The 21 year old is still developing and is far from a finished product. He seems to be behind Gallagher in the development curve and needs regular playing time to hone his skills and gain maturity.

As per Daily Star journalist Paul Brown, Lampard wants to bring a player with a deep lying playmaker profile to Goodison Park.

"Everton still don’t have a kind of ball-playing, deep-lying midfielder. It’s one of the reasons why they brought in [Donny] Van de Beek in the transfer window, and I think he’s still looking for that.Harry Winks is someone who can play that role. He obviously likes Billy Gilmour as well. Whether he’s ready to take on that kind of responsibility at a big club like Everton week to week is still to be decided, but I think Lampard is definitely looking for that profile of player. ( Paul Brown via Give Me Sport)"

There are some reservations with Gilmour because he’s at a relatively young stage of his career and Everton will need a dependable player who can pull off the job week in and week out. But, that is no reason to eliminate Gilmour as an option.

The Scottish midfielder has abundant potential and Lampard has the right tools to polish the gem. The former Chelsea boss has an immaculate track record of improving youngsters and players like Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham and Reece James are already reaping benefits.

It is very clear that sooner or later Everton will make a move either for Winks or for Gilmour.

Will Frank Lampard sign Billy Gilmour?