Despite the weekend’s results tipping the relegation survival balance towards Everton, there is no doubt that it has been a shocking campaign for the Blues.
Since Farhad Moshiri took over the club in 2016 they have spent more than £500million in the transfer market but to little avail. The heavy spending has included players such as Cenk Tosun, Davy Klassen and Sandro Ramirez.
The current predicament the club find themselves in is a culmination of years of mismanagement and a scattergun approach to the transfer market. Everton’s starting XI during last month’s defeat to Tottenham included players signed by six different managers.
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In March the club announced a £120.9 million loss for the 2020-21 financial year which means they have lost £373million over the past three years. If Everton stay up, they must reshape an expensive and underperforming squad - the club reportedly have the seventh highest wage bill in the league. A rebuild around a young and vibrant team, something Lampard did at both Derby and Chelsea, will be key.
Due to Financial Fair Play restrictions, Everton will no longer be able to spend big sums, which may be just as well given their poor record in the market. With a wealth of talent in the Football League, they could do worse than looking there to pick up bargains.
Here are five EFL talents that Everton could sign on free transfers in the summer.
Sam Johnstone – West Brom - goalkeeper
A regular member of England squads and with three caps to his name, Johnstone is one of the elite names available on a free transfer this summer from the EFL. During the 2020-21 season he made the most saves in the Premier League with 166 and he has kept 15 cleansheets in 36 Championship games for West Brom this campaign.
A modern goalkeeper in every sense with his impressive distribution, the Baggies stopper would fit Lampard’s progressive style of play. While this may not be the most pressing position for Everton to fill, Johnstone would provide good competition for England teammate Jordan Pickford. He has stated his desire to return to the Premier League and has been linked with a whole host of top-flight clubs, including Manchester United and Tottenham.
Everton’s number two has often been a problem position in recent seasons with none of Maarten Stekelenburg, Jonas Lossl or Robin Olsen convincing – Johnstone would provide tremendous backup.
Ryan Nyambe – Blackburn - right-back
Nyambe is only 24 already has 199 senior club appearances to his name. The right-sided defender is equally adept at full back and wing back, while he can also fill in at centre back. He has been one of the standout performers during Blackburn’s rise from League One to atop Championship team under manager Tony Mowbray.
Nyambe was linked with both Southampton and Leeds during January and will be a big miss for the Ewood Park outfit. A Namibian international, the defender made his debut in the 2019 African Cup of Nations and has won nine caps.
Everton have a good record with young right-sided defenders signed from EFL clubs - exemplified by John Stones and Mason Holgate. While they have options at right back, Jonjoe Kenny hasn’t nailed down a spot; Seamus Coleman is getting older; and Nathan Patterson has struggled with injury since signing from Rangers in January. Although it is not a priority area, Nyambe’s experience, versatility and low cost make him an interesting proposition.
John Swift – Reading - midfielder
Everton’s problems in centre-midfield have been well-publicised as injuries have taken their toll - Fabian Delph, Tom Davies and Andre Gomes have all missed large chunks of the season.
There is a clear dearth of creativity in this problem position. Between them, Everton’s senior central midfielders have contributed just four goals and 11 assists across 102 appearances.
Abdoulaye Doucoure’s two goals and four assists in 27 games is the best output. Swift could provide that quality and creativity. In a struggling Reading side, hampered by off-field problems, he has excelled with 11 goals and 13 assists. Without their talisman, they would be in real danger of relegation. The former Chelsea youngster is also in the whoscored.com Championship team of the season.
On average, Swift has completed 2.7 key passes per game – the top ranking in the Championship. Aged 26, he is set to enter the peak of his career over the next few years and this campaign is his first scoring more than 10 goals. His creative nous could be key as Lampard aims to increase Everton’s attacking output.
Jed Wallace – Millwall - right-winger
With six goals and 10 assists this campaign, Wallace has yet again proved he is one of the Championship’s top talents. The right-sided midfielder has scored 37 goals and provided 37 assists in 208 Championship appearances for Millwall. He has scored 10 or more league goals in two seasons and has been involved in 36.2% of his side’s goals since the start of 2019-20.
The winger’s pinpoint delivery may help to improve on the Blues’ six goals from set pieces this season. His 2.5 key passes per game are only bettered by Swift and 1.9 crosses per game ranks him fifth in that metric - Wallace would add further creativity to Lampard’s side.
Aged 28, his experience of the EFL could support the younger wingers in the squad. Wallace has been regularly linked with moves away during his time at Millwall including to Besiktas. It is expected a host of clubs across Europe will chase him this summer and for a free transfer, it would be worth a punt for Everton.
Ben Brereton Diaz – Blackburn Rovers - forward
Brereton Diaz’s meteoric rise over the past 12 months has seen the forward go from a steady Championship performer to international superstar. This included a leading role in a Pepsi advert for Chile TV.
The Blackburn forward made his debut for Chile in June after qualifying through his mother. This followed a social media campaign by fans who realised he was half-Chilean while playing Football Manager. Brereton Diaz shone at the Copa America and has scored four times in 11 caps.
Ahead of 2021-22 he had netted 17 goals in 133 Championship appearances. Boosted by his new-found cult hero status, he bagged 20 in his first 25 this campaign to push Blackburn into promotion contention. However, his ankle injury in February halted the club’s progress as they picked up just seven points in seven games without him – they have slipped out of the play-off places.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s future uncertain along with his injury history, Brereton Diaz could provide good depth for Everton’s front-line. His versatility across the attack and the lack of quality back-up in Salomon Rondon and Cenk Tosun means this acquisition would make sense.
If he can recapture the form that saw him linked with FC Barcelona in January, he could be an absolute bargain for Everton.
Everton’s heavy spending on big-name stars in recent years has often backfired. Coupled with the growing financial pressure on the club, a change to signing up-and-coming EFL talent, all for a bargain price, could be crucial in reinvigorating the club as they embark on a rebuild under Lampard.
