Season › 2024-25 › News The Rumour Mill Eight low-cost signings that could add depth for Everton this summer Harry Diamond | 04/06/2025 17comments | Jump to last Few Premier League sides have a rebuild quite as vast as Everton this summer. Of last season’s squad, Ashley Young, Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia are not being retained, and loanees Jack Harrison, Orel Mangala, Armando Broja and Jesper Lindstrom will not remain for next season. Elsewhere, Abdoulaye Doucoure is departing and the futures of Seamus Coleman, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Michael Keane are unresolved. Funds are expected to be made available, but with as many as 10 new signings required, not every addition will be marquee. Some cut-price additions to add depth may be required and we’ve looked at eight options Everton could target. Angel Gomes – Lille (Free) Angel Gomes has confirmed he is leaving Lille as a free agent and there has been no update on the midfielder’s next club. The 24-year-old took the increasingly popular route of leaving the Premier League to aid his development in Europe and has impressed in Ligue 1. Gomes was the joint-leading assist provider in France in 2023-24 and made his senior England debut last autumn. The ex-Manchester United midfielder may relish the chance to return to the Premier League and North West. Sean Longstaff - Newcastle (£12m) Everton enquired into Sean Longstaff’s availability in January and could return this summer. Newcastle are one of several sides stunted by PSR and the sale of their academy product would count as pure profit on the balance sheet. With just 12 months on his deal, there have been suggestions that Longstaff could be available for around £12m. It seems like a fair fee. Callum Wilson - Newcastle (Free) Another expected exit at Newcastle. Wilson’s deal is up and Newcastle and his future is up in the air. The Magpies have offered the 33-year-old an extension but it is incentivised given a concerning injury-record. That unavailability will concern suitors, even given a Premier League record of 47 goals in 113 games for Newcastle. Everton, in particular, will be cautious after recent spells without Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Armando Broja. Wilfred Ndidi – Leicester (£8m) Somehow, Wilfred Ndidi is still just 28. The Nigerian appears to have been around forever, using his ball-winning at the base of Leicester’s midfield. Leicester will play Championship football next season, a relegation that has activated an £8m release clause in Ndidi’s contract. Ndidi would not be a glamorous signing but would ease the reliance on Idrissa Gueye, who turns 36 in September. Last season, Ndidi ranked in the top 5% of midfielders across Europe for tackles, clearances and aerial duels won per 90. Josh Brownhill – Burnley (Free) Josh Brownhill’s contract at Burnley expires this month and the Clarets are already lining up replacements. The 29-year-old’s exit will be a big blow to the newly-promoted side, having been a driving force in the club’s Championship campaign. Brownhill scored 18 league goals from midfield and was the second-highest scorer in the second tier. He could be an interesting option after Doucoure’s departure. CJ Egan-Riley – Burnley (Free) Another expected exit at Burnley, CJ Egan-Riley’s deal is also up. The England u-21 international was named in the Championship Team of the Season after helping Burnley to the league’s best defence. Burnley conceded just 16 times in 46 games with Egan-Riley a major part of their defensive strength. He looks likely to head to Strasbourg, unless a deal can be hijacked. Kyle Walker-Peters – Southampton (Free) Southampton’s sorry season had few bright sparks on route to relegation. The Saints looked out of their depth all campaign but there are some in the squad who are equipped at Premier League level. Kyle Walker-Peters broke into the England set-up just three years ago and, at 28, is an option that should be considered. Walker-Peters is comfortable in either full-back position (an area of shortage for the Blues) and available on a free transfer. Jan Bednarek – Southampton (£6m) If Michael Keane is to leave, a third and possibly fourth centre-back are required. Jan Bednarek’s contract at Southampton has a £6m release clause after relegation. The 29-year-old boasts 184 Premier League appearances on his CV and could fill the fourth centre-back slot for a nominal fee. He was fourth in the Premier League for interceptions last season and seventh for pass completion (92.7%). A low-cost addition that could free funds for more pressing areas of the squad. Reader Comments (17) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Mihir Ambardekar 1 Posted 04/06/2025 at 15:27:44 Kyle walker Peters at RBMidfield - Sean Longstaff and Angel Gomes. Along with Gueye, Garner and Tim, we have a strong midfield. We can also let Tim go out on loan to get more game time. Jack Convery 2 Posted 04/06/2025 at 16:51:27 I expect we will send Chermiti and Iroegbunam out on loan next season, so it's not just out of contract who are leaving. I also expect Patterson to leave, as no manager seems convinced by him. Could he be part of a deal for Diomand at Rangers. Thelwell may want him at Rangers too.Of those mentioned above I would take Walker-Peters because of his versatility to play both full back roles. Brownhill is an interesting one, as it looked like he would join last summer on a free but signed a one year extension with Burnley. Ndidi would most probably be the better midfielder to take as we need someone who can play the Gueye role for the next 4 years at least and he could be eased into the position. A pity Mangala is out until at least December as he looked really good before his injury.I believe we will offer Keane a new contract but whether he will sign it, will depend on him taking a cut in his wages. Martin Mason 3 Posted 04/06/2025 at 16:54:41 Might be a fair cost but any mileage in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea. Gerry Quinn 4 Posted 04/06/2025 at 18:31:40 Here is a name from the past - and now we could be signing his son:https://www.grandoldteam.com/2025/06/04/everyone-knows-i-love-the-toffees-it-would-be-a-fairytale-story/ Lester Yip 5 Posted 05/06/2025 at 06:22:01 Ndidi and Kyle Walker-Peters are no brainers. Proven EPL still with years to go. Danny O'Neill 6 Posted 05/06/2025 at 06:37:41 I don't buy into this Premier League experience thing. Never have done.Some of the best players and managers over the years were that when they first played or managed in the Premier League, not because they had done previously.It's about finding the right player to fit the squad, wherever they come from or whatever experience they have.I wouldn't say there are any no-brainers out there. That's for the recruitment team and scouting network to do. Robert Tressell 7 Posted 05/06/2025 at 07:13:16 Ndidi used to be good about 4 years ago but not sure now. Tommy Carter 8 Posted 05/06/2025 at 07:18:00 Young hungry players we should be going for. We need a better left back. And we should sign Alfie Doughty or Leif Davies Danny O'Neill 9 Posted 05/06/2025 at 07:31:49 Tommy, that "young hungry" cliche irritates me.I'm a promoter of youth and grass roots football.Are you saying Gana or Tarkowski aren't hungry?I haven't come across many footballers who aren't hungry to win.It's a balance. I don't care how old or young a player is as long as they perform.It depends who we recruit, but I think the average age of our squad is 26. Maybe that will go down with the release of Doucoure, Young and Coleman.We just need the right players. Andy Gray was nearly 30 when he signed for us. I never saw any lack of hunger in him. Sam Hoare 10 Posted 05/06/2025 at 07:39:45 Angel Gomes would be a great pick up but looks set for Tottenham or West Ham.The rest are somewhat uninspiring but could be useful as squad fillers depending on price/wages. KWP would be useful as he can help on both flanks though I'd prefer him as a backup which he may not want.Will be interesting to see who we loan too. I posted a list of out of favour forwards yesterday who might be available for loans and could offer something.Evan FergusonAlexandr MitrovicTammy AbrahamYoussoufa MoukokoDatro FofanaBrian BrobbeyEl Bilal Toure Ian Bennett 11 Posted 05/06/2025 at 07:40:39 Bobby Thomas at Coventry looked a good option for 4th choice centre half. 24, 6ft 4, he looked worth scouting to see if he could step up. Tommy Carter 12 Posted 05/06/2025 at 08:13:43 @9 DannyIt can irritate you all it wants but it's the best way to go. Young means time and space for improvement - reaching of potential. Young means a player on an upward curve rather than a downward one. Young means potential for resale value in the future. Young means a prospect of a lower transfer fee and wages. Signing players in their late 20s and even 30s has not been positive for Everton in recent years. So yes, hungry at whatever age is what we need. But young and hungry is better than old and hungry if you ask me. Most successful modern football teams have a core of players under 25 that have developed together into their peak years and brought about success together. There will be more experienced players surrounding them throughout of course. And I am talking about the modern game which is what we currently play in. Not the mid 80s British football from 40 years ago that Andy Gray featured in. Tommy Carter 13 Posted 05/06/2025 at 08:56:08 @10 SamI'm not too fussed on Gomes. His wages will be astronomical and although he's a neat and tidy player - I'm not sure he's for the Premier League or specifically Everton. We need someone capable of getting goals, being effective in both boxes or able to create chances for others. I'm not sure Gomes offers this and in that instance if he is to occupy a defensive midfield space then we require someone with more physical presence or the attributes to be able to directly replace Gana. Eric Myles 14 Posted 05/06/2025 at 10:11:45 Tommy #12… "You'll never win anything with young players." Stu Darlington 15 Posted 05/06/2025 at 10:12:28 I'm not sure many of the players listed above are the profile we need to fulfill our stated aim of competing in the top half of the Premier League and challenging for a place in one of the European competitions.I tend to agree with Tommy @12 although I would not be averse to signing an older player who would provide leadership and experience to younger players.We've got to learn from the mistakes of recent years where big,long term contracts were given to players likely to have no on-sale value.They can become very difficult to move on if they don't work out, as we have seen. There must be better alternatives out there surely? Si Cooper 16 Posted 05/06/2025 at 19:42:46 I see Kyle Walker-Peters as okay but not great, and would prefer great if we can get it. Mick O'Malley 17 Posted 05/06/2025 at 20:29:35 Martin I like Dewsbury-Hall, really good player who chips in with his fair share of goals as well, he's going to struggle to nail down a place at Chelsea especially considering they are interested in Kudus and have just signed 2 South American youngsters, I'd be well pleased if we could sign him Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. How to get rid of these ads and support TW © ToffeeWeb