With Sean Dyche guiding Everton to safety, a transformational summer is needed in order to avoid a similar fate next season. Relegation battles cannot become a regular occurrence and if EFC are to avoid that, they need to overhaul the squad in certain areas and get rid of players who are not performing on a regular level.
Everton’s defence is now expected to undergo changes as two centre backs have already left the club. Yerry Mina signed for the Toffees in 2018 and has had a bittersweet time at Goodison Park. When fit, he was easily one of the best, most commanding and reliable centre backs at the club but his fragile injury record often saw him spend extended periods on the sidelines.
Mina was earning £120,000 per week and given his miserable injury record, it was difficult to justify these extravagant wages. His contract was running out at the end of the season and the Toffees decided not to offer him a new deal. Mina will walk out of the club as a free agent.
Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate could also leave Everton
Last summer, after acquiring James Tarkowski on a free transfer, EFC also signed Conor Coady on a season long loan deal with the option to make a move permanent for £4.5 million. Coady was a regular under Frank Lampard but fell out of favour under Sean Dyche. The Wolves defender only returned for the final game of the season against Bournemouth where he put in a solid shift. However, that was not enough to justify Everton spending £4.5 million on him.
The Toffees decided against triggering the buy option and Coady will now return to Wolves. According to Paul Joyce of The Times, there could be more defensive exits as EFC enter the market with the aim to trim the bloated squad. As per the report, it remains to be seen if Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate remain at Goodison Park beyond this summer.
Holgate has seen a massive reduction in playing time after falling down the pecking order. The Englishman has just played 559 minutes of football this season, making five starts in the Premier League. On the other hand, Ben Godfrey has endured an injury ridden campaign. The former Norwich City man missed 20 games because of injuries, making 13 appearances in the league.
EFC will look to sign centre backs in the summer transfer window and their search will be further intensified if Holgate or Godfrey also leave the club.
Should Everton sign a young centre back this summer?