If Everton lose Onana and Gueye Sheffield Utd star could be an answer

Everton face a very uncertain summer with continuing financial problems looming and still no resolution to the ongoing ownership saga.

Regardless of how eventually that issue is resolved, it is almost inevitable that the Toffees will lose a few of their players either because contracts are finished or because they are sold to raise much-needed cash.

The high-profile individual most likely to leave - in fact he is surely almost certain to go - is defensive midfielder Amadou Onana.

The Belgian international has had another campaign that has mixed some very strong performances with others less impressive.

Signed from Lille in summer 2022 Onana has been a player whose obvious physical qualities and ability has proved to be a source of frustration at times for Blues supporters.

There is a sense that he should be a very dominant modern midfield enforcer and that he has sometimes flattered to deceive.

Despite that feeling, given all his talent and potential, he has attracted interest from other Premier League clubs almost from the very moment he joined Everton.

Onana is under contract until 2027 and so if he is to leave this summer the Toffees will be able to demand a big sum for the player.

As well as Onana, veteran fellow defensive midfielder Idrissa Gueye's contract runs out in the summer.

The Blues have the option to extend his contract by another twelve months and I would imagine that they will probably do so, especially if Onana does leave.

But even if the club do extend his contract, at 35 Gueye is obviously not a long-term option for this pivitol position in the team and were Onana to go, another successor will be needed.

So, given Everton's constrained financial position where even if they raise significant sums they have substantial debts to service, they will likely have to search the transfer market very carefully to find the right sort of players.

One possible option to replace Onana and Gueye could be Sheffield United's Brazilian midfielder Vinicius Souza.

He looks a good fit for what the Toffees would need, with his best position being that number six type role that Gueye and Onana have mainly operated in.

Yes I know he is playing for a team that has been relegated and have conceded a lot of goals this season. But remember too that Gueye came from Aston Villa who had just gone down when he first joined Everton.

The 24-year-old is a young, powerful defensive midfield enforcer who is a particularly strong tackler and is very good in the air.

He does seem more of a natural replacement for Gueye and for what Everton need in the engine room - particularly given Dyche's preferred style of play - rather than someone like Wilfred Ndidi.

Signing a player from Sheffield United to replace Onana and possibly Gueye might not sound very glamorous at all.

The truth is though that the Toffees have to cut their cloth very fine these days and must be ready to consider a transfer strategy accordingly.

Gone are the days of extravagant spending on high-profile talents. Not that such an approach worked out particularly well did it?!

Souza's side are coming to Goodison Park this Saturday and so it will represent a chance for Sean Dyche to take a closer look at him.

With the Yorkshire club having been relegated, the Brazilian will probably be available for a very reasonable fee too if the Blues did decide he fitted the bill.