Everton are going to see a lot of changes sanctioned over the coming weeks on Merseyside.
A transformational summer is in store for Everton fans under the ownership of the Friedkins, who are promising a much brighter future.
David Moyes is being backed by the Everton owners in what is their first real opportunity to spend some money at the club.
Fortunately, the Friedkins are improving Everton’s finances, which means the PSR concerns have been put to one side to some extent.
Numerous players have already departed Moyes’ squad this summer as their respective contracts came to an end last month.
New faces will be expected to start flowing through the doors, but the June exits clearly marked an opportunity for some of the current squad.
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Vitaliy Mykolenko has changed his Everton squad number
With players departing the club, there will now be a handful of squad numbers to suddenly become available.
Earlier in the year, it was claimed Everton wanted to hand Vitaliy Mykolenko a new contract for his efforts at left-back.
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The Ukraine international has been a mainstay in Everton’s defence wearing the number 19 shirt.
However, that appears to have now changed, with Mykolenko spotted in Everton’s early pre-season efforts wearing the number 16 on his training kit.
That was, of course, the number left behind by the outbound Abdoulaye Doucoure, who is now seeking a new opportunity as a free agent.
Moyes is keen to add more full-backs this summer, with Mykolenko suffering from a lack of support on the left side of the pitch.
A change in squad number for Mykolenko may be trivial for some, but it does interestingly open up a number for a player Everton are currently eyeing in the summer market.
Zeki Celik’s shirt number suddenly opens up at Everton
It has been claimed that Everton are interested in AS Roma’s Zeki Celik as they eye a new full-back.
This would be an interesting deal for the Toffees, with the Friedkins owning both clubs.
Currently playing his football in Rome, the ‘excellent‘ Celik wears the number 19 shirt, which has now become vacant at Finch Farm after Mykolenko’s apparent change.
Squad numbers mean more to some players than others, with Thierno Barry’s number also available at Everton ahead of his expected move.
Alternatively, the vacant number 19 could be viewed as a potential opportunity for an incoming forward, with some players viewing it as an alternative to the number 10 (1+9) shirt.