The summer transfer window is open, and Everton have plenty of work to do after two straight finishes in the lower part of midtable.
That means the Toffees have been nowhere near relegation, which is good, but it also feels like the club isn't making any progress, even after a flirtation with a European finish last season. The current state of the squad has some answers, but also plenty of questions, especially in defense and the midfield unit.
There are a handful of players whose names are swirling around as potential outgoings, as Everton hope to be quite busy throughout the summer. The World Cup, starting in just six days, will certainly complicate that, but the club's needs are clear.
While much of the conversation should be around players the team wants to bring into the club, the outgoings matter, too. So let's take a look at players on the current roster who could see themselves out of the club, one way or another, this summer.
Tim Iroegbunam, MF
The midfielder will turn 23 on June 30, and his athleticism isn't an issue. It's more that he often displays recklessness in his decision, both on and off the ball, putting his team in peril because of it.
Iroegbunam has reportedly drawn interest from teams in the Bundesliga and newly promoted Ipswich Town, with Everton hoping to recoup money they'll spend on incoming players like Hayden Hackney this summer.
He's out of contract at the end of this season.
Dwight McNeil, LW/RW
Everton nearly sold McNeil to Crystal Palace this winter, but the London club pulled out of the deal at the last minute in a truly hard deed by them.
Despite that, David Moyes often square-pegged the very left-footed winger into the right wing during the second half of the season, ignoring Tyler Dibling and Tyrique George as starting options in the process.
But the writing is on the wall now as McNeil fell out of favor near the end of the campaign, and with his contract also up at the end of next year, it feels like it's time for Everton to find more quality in the position.
Nathan Patterson, RB
Much has been made of the mysterious case of Nathan Patterson, who never caught on at Everton, no matter who the manager has been since he arrived. He enjoyed a small spell with Moyes this season, but it didn't last.
Even though he's also out of contract at the end of next season, it's possible a loan deal (with an option to buy) might make the most sense, simply because the Scotland international hasn't had much of a chance to show what he can do while at Everton.
The World Cup may offer him some ground to prove himself, but he's likely to see much of the pitch there, either.
Charly Alcaraz, MF
This one makes the least sense, because the Argentine is the best player of this lot by a rather wide margin. He just turned 23 in November, and he almost always shows himself a capable player when called upon.
But Moyes never seemed to rate him, as evidenced by the two-year deal the club signed him to after a loan spell in January.
He's worked hard since he's been with Everton, and the hope will be that the club can find him a place where he can land and be a major contributor, hopefully at as high a level as possible.
Adam Aznou, LB
Another head scratcher is Aznou, who came and saw the pitch once for the senior side during his debut campaign with the club.
Maybe he's not ready for the Premier League. If that's the case, he should have been loaned out immediately instead of wasting the year languishing on the bench.
Instead, he'll probably get that loan next season, with Vitalii Mykolenko probably getting a contract extension, making you wonder if he'll ever play impactful minutes for Everton.
Iliman Ndiaye, LW
He's included here simply because the rumors won't go away, even if the club and others around it insist that the Senegal international isn't unhappy.
But the fact that he hasn't agreed to extend his deal, combined with plenty of interest from other clubs, makes this a situation to pay attention to.
It could be a big opportunity for Everton to cash in big, but it would matter more how they reinvest the funds to replace Ndiaye. Either way, it's something to watch as the summer progresses.
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