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Everton cannot ignore three major decisions before potential transfer dilemmas

The to-do list at Finch Farm is huge and there are three calls that need to be considered this year even if they will have a limited impact next season

Jordan Pickford saves from Virgil van Dijk while the Liverpool defender is under pressure from Jake O'Brien, James Tarkowski, James Garner and Vitalii Mykolenko. Tarkowski, Garner and Mykolenko are all due to enter the final 12 months of their contracts this summer. Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Jordan Pickford saves from Virgil van Dijk while the Liverpool defender is under pressure from Jake O'Brien, James Tarkowski, James Garner and Vitalii Mykolenko. Tarkowski, Garner and Mykolenko are all due to enter the final 12 months of their contracts this summer. Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Everton’s summer is set to be a busy one, with much of the focus set to be on who David Moyes will bring in for a new era at the club’s stunning new stadium. Carlos Alcaraz hasalready been confirmed as a Blues player, the club triggering the option in his loan deal from Flamengo to make his positive spell into a permanent one.

More players will follow as Moyes attempts to address the holes left by the eight members of the first team squad that have already departed.

Four further players, Seamus Coleman, Idrissa Gueye, Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are still in talks with the club.

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With Mason Holgate expected to leave after two seasons out on loan in the Championship, even if all four of those players were to extend their stays on Merseyside, Moyes would still have just 18 in his first team squad, including teen starlet Harrison Armstrong.

At the very least, he will need to address the goalkeeping department and the right of his midfield after the exits of backup keepers Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia, as well loanee wide players Jesper Lindstrom and Jack Harrison.

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A new right back, competition at left back, more options in the middle and another striker are also priority areas.

As soon as Everton have concluded the unresolved contract situations this month, there will be yet more to consider, though. Among the countless other tasks for those at Finch Farm is to look ahead to what the club wants to do with the players entering the final 12 months of their current deals next month.

As it stands, James Tarkowski, Vitalii Mykolenko and James Garner each fall into that category, with the three players on deals that will run out at the end of June 2026. With all three having been part of Moyes’ first team plans when fit, careful consideration will need to be given to their status as Everton attempt to build his squad for the coming season. Inaction would leave the club at risk of losing them on a free next year.

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