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.