Everton head into the summer needing to do a lot of filling along their squad to bolster it to a place where they can compete in the Premier League and avoid another season of hand-wringing as they hope to avoid relegation.
While they eventually got to a place where the concept was all but forgotten and were safe quite early releative to recent seaons, there's no doubt that the club and its supporters are looking for the word to not even enter the conversation at any reasonable point during the campaign.
Given the current state of the squad, the task for Angus Kinnear, David Moyes, and company is going to be a massive one, but it's also a project that won't be completed in one summer transfer window.
That said, how many spots can Everton actually fill this summer, and how many players will it take to do so? Remember, depth could be achieved at certain positions via a single player with the versatility to cover multiple spots.
Let's take a look at each position group and gauge how many players will be needed based on the current makeup of the squad.
Goalkeepers
The only first-team goalkeeper on the current squad is Jordan Pickford, who has been excellent and should be next in line to be the Everton captain.
His presence also makes it difficult to attract quality talent as Everton's no.2, because there's little guarantee of any playing time. It's why João Virginia is leaving after an extended tenure behind England's No. 1.
With Asmir Begovic also departing, the goalkeeping room will require an overhaul, with a direct backup to Pickford and an emergency third brought in. I'd imagine Everton will scour the free agency market for both of these players, unless they can get a young keeper for relatively cheap.
None of the three goalkeepers on the U21 squad appears ready to make the next step quite yet.
Players needed: 2
Defenders
The trio of Jarrad Branthwaite, James Tarkowski, and Jake O'Brien look to be back next season, although there will be questions about whether Tarkowski will be ready to start the year on time after his late-season injury this year.
With Michael Keane likely out the door after his contract runs out, there will be a need for a fourth centerback, but whether Everton opt to spend money to transfer someone in is a question. Given the openings available, it is more likely they'll convince a veteran on a free to join, recognizing he'll be a squad player at best.
Reece Welch has some senior experience, but probably isn't ready to step into that role quite yet, although he may see game time in an emergency situation.
At the fullbacks, the situation is rather dire.
Seamus Coleman is probably coming back, but he cannot be counted on as a regular first-team player at this point in his career and will probably see his match opportunities be few and far between next year. Nathan Patterson isn't really a fullback, at least not one who excels as a defender, and unless Everton want to find another way to work him into the squad, he may need a loan or to be sold.
At left back, Vitalii Mykolenko is the sole player at the position at the moment, meaning the Toffees will either need to find someone to back him up or someone who can push him and take over as the regular starter. The Ukrainian is a useful player in many regards, but he's limited offensively.
Players needed: 3-4
Midfielders
The midfield is essentially four players strong at the moment, if you assume the rumors about Idrissa Gana Gueye's imminent contract signing are true: Gana, James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam, and Charly Alcaraz.
If Gana is back and continues to be effective, you can lock him in as a starter in the midfield, but whether Garner is still a strong option next to him on a team with mid to upper table aspirations isn't clear.
Many of the transfer rumors around the club so far have included midfielders, so it's clear they have an idea of bringing in more depth here, or maybe even someone who can begin to learn the ropes from Gana and eventually take his spot when he moves on.
That essentially fills the spot Orel Mangala was manning, quite admirably, before he tore his ACL, so that's a good need to look for. Then they'll need an Abdoulaye Doucoure replacement, a midfielder who can slide into various roles in the middle of the park.
Alcaraz could be spelled in his role by other guys on the current squad, but it's possible that whoever takes the above role as a hybrid 10/8/6 jack-of-all-trades guy could also fill in for the Argentine if called upon as well.
Players needed: 1-2
Forwards
Unless the Toffees want to make a big splash at striker (hello Thierno Barry), two of their three attacking options seem pretty well slotted in with Beto and Iliman Ndiaye. Dwight McNeil is probably the starter on the other wing if the season began today, but that's where opportunities present themselves.
Another player like Ndiaye, a player who can create for himself and others, is great on the ball, and scores goals, on the opposite wing, feels like the most dire need for Everton outside of right back, and should be somewhere where the club should look to splash some cash to improve.
McNeil is a good player, but the lack of pace and his one-footedness limit what he can do, even if that one foot he does have is a tremendous weapon. He still has a place on the squad, but maybe not as a regular starter if there's an upgrade to be had.
Another striker appears to be on Everton's wishlist, but whether it's a major coup for the club that ends up with Beto being replaced or simply a more experienced backup remains to be seen. Youssef Chermiti is there, but fitness and game time has been an issue for him since he arrived.
In an ideal world, they find a player who can be the regular starter on the right wing opposite Ndiaye, but that player also has the ability to play all three attacking positions if needed. But that's a hard ask, especially depending on how much money the club is willing to put into that player.
Players needed: 1-2
Total players to be added: 10-12
Again, it is very unlikely that Everton will add 10 new players this summer, but they'll certainly aim to fill as many of those roles as possible. Would 7 or 8 signings be shocking? Definitely not. And that may only begin to scratch the surface of what Everton need to improve the team.