Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with fans after Beto scores his team's third goal during the Premier League win at Fulham. Alcaraz was crucial in the comeback win, producing one of several displays that have led to Everton seeking to make his move permanent. Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with fans after Beto scores his team's third goal during the Premier League win at Fulham. Alcaraz was crucial in the comeback win, producing one of several displays that have led to Everton seeking to make his move permanent. Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Everton were always set for a busy summer and the post-season has begun with a flurry of big decisions. The futures of Carlos Alcaraz, Idrissa Gueye and Liam Delap appear all-but decided less than one week after the final round of Premier League fixtures.
Further work needs to be done in the coming days, with the club still yet to confirm the fate of several out-of-contract players. But there has been no hangover from Sunday’s win over Newcastle United and the emotion of the final weeks of a rollercoaster campaign.
Three key developments have helped Everton move forward with their summer planning since that success at St James’ Park.
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Talks with Brazilian side Flamengo have left the Blues on the cusp of making Alcaraz their first signing of the summer - and the first permanent senior men’s team addition since The Friedkin Group became owners in December.
The loanee needed time to convince David Moyes he should be part of his vision for the future but his form at the end of the campaign - in which he was key to stunning victories at Fulham then Newcastle - made the 22-year-old irresistible, particularly when he was available for just over £12m.
While the deal is yet to be finalised, Everton entered the weekend hopeful of completion before the expiration of the club’s exclusivity period. Alcaraz had made clear his desire to remain on Merseyside and give the Premier League a second shot having previously played for Southampton. Securing Alcaraz will go some way to addressing the concerns over Abdoulaye Doucoure’s departure, with the former Juventus man having shown he too can provide goals from a central role when provided the opportunity.
Alcaraz looks set to have the protection of Gueye behind him next year, with the veteran Senegal international on the cusp of agreeing a new deal. Voted the supporters’ player of the year, his role in the form that saw Everton surge away from trouble under Moyes left club chiefs reluctant to countenance his exit.
Moyes is concerned about the double stress on his squad of major turnover in the dressing room and the transition to the Hill Dickinson Stadium. He has come to view Gueye as an important talisman and talks with the 35-year-old over a new deal are understood to be progressing well.
Moyes is aware that, with him turning 36 in September, Gueye cannot be relied upon forever and this summer hopes to build a stronger midfield unit that is less reliant on him being ever-present.
The other major development in the first week after the season has been the decision reached by Liam Delap to pursue talks with Chelsea. The Ipswich Town forward held discussions with Everton last week and was a target for the Blues.
But there was no naivety at Finch Farm, with Moyes entering the fight for the 22-year-old with little expectation given the opposition faced for his signature. Delap now looks set to move to Stamford Bridge and, despite the obvious disappointment, his decision coming so early in the summer means Everton can quickly move on to alternative targets.
It is not a foregone conclusion a striker will be the top priority. Beto's form in the second half of the season was crucial to the Blues while Moyes is eager to add goals from midfield and out wide. There was little surprise loanees Armando Broja, Jack Harrison, Jesper Lindstrom and Orel Mangala have been told to return to their parent clubs, particularly given that Lindstrom and Mangala ended the campaign injured. But the departures of Lindstrom and Harrison leave Moyes with no recognised right wing options. Searching for pace, goals and assists in that area will be a major part of the rebuild.
Before that process can ramp up, the priority is to work through the remaining players whose contracts are due to expire. Moyes entered talks hopeful club captain Seamus Coleman would sign a new playing contract. It was long-expected Michael Keane would depart but his impressive form at the end of the season, combined with James Tarkowski’s serious hamstring injury and the interest expected in Jarrad Branthwaite, has led to careful consideration of his situation. Keane had interest from the USA and Italy in January. Another centre back on an expiring deal, Mason Holgate, is expected to leave after two seasons away on loan.
Meanwhile, Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s future is outstanding with Moyes having to balance concerns over his injury record with what is likely to be a difficult striker market this summer - one that has not been made easier by the decision of Delap to head to London.