One of the aims of the summer is to help reduce the age of the squad - without sacrificing too much experience
Everton’s summer business to date has showcased the dual ambitions of a club trying to chart a safe pathway to an exciting future.
Under Sean Dyche and David Moyes, the club regularly fielded one of the oldest starting elevens in the Premier League last season.
One of the challenges of this transfer window is to lay the foundation for the future while protecting the present. The work undertaken since the final game of the season highlights how the club is attempting to deal with ambitions that can sometimes conflict.
Everton’s first XI regularly featured a tranche of players over the age of 30 last season. The starting line-up that won at Newcastle United on May 25 included Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Idrissa Gueye and Ashley Young. For much of the campaign, Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Tarkowski were in the first team, while Seamus Coleman was in the squad when fit.
While the inclusion of Young, then 39, and Gueye, at 35, pulled up the average age of Everton’s starting line-up into the high 20s, the Blues’ squad was in stark contrast to that of Chelsea.
While the Blues secured that win at St James’ Park, Enzo Maresca’s clinched Champions League football with a win at Nottingham Forest with a starting line-up that featured no player above the age of 27.
Bringing down the age of the Everton squad is an aim of the club’s hierarchy and that has been clear in the undertones of the strategy of this summer so far. That may not be immediately apparent given that Gueye, Keane and Coleman have all agreed new deals after beginning the summer on contracts set to expire.
But the context of each agreement matters. While there is a desire to drive down the average age of the squad it is not a mission that can be chased at all costs. Moyes is weary of the immense transition taking place at Everton this summer with a squad rebuild a necessity after years of operating with caution in the transfer market. The pressure of such change will be intensified by the move from the familiar surrounds of Goodison Park to the exciting new home of the Hill Dickinson.
Against that backdrop, Moyes has placed significant value on continuity and stability and he sees the three elder statesmen as trusted figures who know the club and can help guide the team into its new era. Even if Keane and Coleman are expected to play little, the pair are regarded as influential figures behind-the-scenes, key to setting and maintaining standards at Finch Farm.
Their new deals reflect their ages though. All three have been offered contracts that, at the outset, only last for 12 months. Gueye had hoped for longer and his deal, like that of Keane’s, contains the potential for an extension.
With Keane, Everton explored the transfer market before re-engaging for talks once it was decided he was the best option for the back-up centre back spot that would have needed filling should he have departed.
Meanwhile, Moyes reaped the benefit of Gueye’s presence following his return to Everton in January but is aware that, given he will turn 36 in September, he needs to start building a midfield that is less reliant on the Senegal international.
The one-year deal is reflective of the approach taken to the squad this summer so far. There is an understanding that moving away from Gueye would have been a major gamble given his importance to the team - hence the new deal. Yet the terms show a refusal to commit too heavily into the future.
That underscored the approach to talks with Doucoure and Calvert-Lewin. Doucoure repeatedly produced heroics for Dyche then proved useful for Moyes with his goals against Leicester City, Manchester United and a stoppage-time winner at Nottingham Forest. Everton allowed the deadline to renew his deal on its existing terms to pass, however, and talks over his future stumbled over the club’s desire to commit to reduced wages for one of the club’s high-earners as he approached his mid-30s.
With Calvert-Lewin, Everton made clear they would hold firm on their valuation on him should he want to stay, with the club reluctant to sanction another deal on lucrative terms for a forward who suffered more injury misfortune last season.
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While those talks were ongoing, Everton were proactive in securing talent that can help carry the club forward for years to come. The primary ambition of the summer was to keep Jarrad Branthwaite and entice him to commit to a longer future with the club. That has been achieved and the centre back’s dedication provides Everton with a top class, emerging talisman who is now on course to stay with the club until 2030.
Branthwaite turned 23 as the contract was finalised. His deal followed the signing of Carlos Alcaraz, 22, on a permanent move after his successful loan spell from Flamengo. This week, Thierno Barry arrived as the second summer signing and the 22-year-old is viewed as another promising talent who can grow with the club.
With Jake O’Brien (who turned 24 in May), Iliman Ndiaye (25), Vitalii Mykolenko (26) and James Garner (24) already established in the first team, the Blues enter the Hill Dickinson with a young core that could set up Everton for years to come. Also within the squad are Harry Tyrer (23), Nathan Patterson (23), Youssef Chermiti (21), Tim Iroegbunam (22) and Harrison Armstrong (18). Patterson has suffered serious injury issues since his arrival from Rangers but while some of those players may leave on loan this summer, they represent another collection of young players who could emerge into first team stalwarts with the right support - with excitement particularly high over the potential of England U18s starlet Armstrong.
Everton have work to do this summer, with new arrivals expected throughout the squad. As shown by the pursuit of Kenny Tete (29) there will be a need to bring in experience where possible. The balance of maturity and youth is tough to strike but Everton appear to be working hard to find the best of both worlds.