Everton analysis: The positions Sean Dyche must strengthen this transfer window

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Everton’s ownership’s future, there is always pressure on the club to get the correct signings through the door.

Director of football Kevin Thelwell and manager Sean Dyche are constantly in close contact and discussing players.

Everton have already made four signings as they recently confirmed the signing of Jesper Lindstrøm from Napoli on a season-long loan.

The Toffees may have to dip into the loan market - and Kevin Thelwell has shown that he is not afraid to do so already in the transfer window.

Plenty of high-profile departures have seen the club’s budget open more than in recent years, particularly with the recent sale of Amadou Onana to Aston Villa for £50million.

Players in:

Jack Harrison from Leeds (loan)

Illiam Ndiaye from Marseille

Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa

Jesper Lindstrøm from Napoli (loan)

Players out (selected):

Amadou Onana to Aston Villa

Ben Godfrey to Atalanta

Lewis Dobbin to Aston Villa

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Here, Sports News Blitz’s Jon Shea looks at where Dyche must strengthen as he bids to bring some new faces to Goodison Park.

Centre forward

Everton have already signed a centre forward in Illiam Ndiaye from Marseille, but rumours continue to circulate over the departure of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is entering the final year of his contract.

His back-up, Beto, did not manage to hit the ground running as hoped by Evertonians, scoring just two league goals last season.

If Calvert-Lewin does leave, it will be imperative for the club to bring another striker through the door.

Everton were one of the lowest goalscorers in the division last season, with set-pieces being a huge portion of where the goals came from.

Scoring goals was a consistent problem last season - and it’s something the club should look to address this summer.

Centre-back

Everton’s defence was excellent last season with only last season’s top three teams conceding less than the Toffees.

Their mainstay back two were James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite and they are likely to continue their partnership into next season.

The back-up options in this position are lacklustre, with Michael Keane and Mason Holgate the only senior central defenders on the books.

Both have also had links to move away from Goodison this summer so an addition in this position would be ideal.

Rumours suggest the Toffees are interested in young Irish centre-back Jake O’Brien, who has impressed during his time with Lyon in France, having moved from Crystal Palace last season.

Reports suggest Ajax and Brentford are also in the race for the 23-year-old.

READ MORE: Seven highlights of Jarrad Branthwaite’s career so far

Midfielder

With Amadou Onana completing his move to Aston Villa, Everton are light in the midfield area, which lacks creativity as it did all last season.

The Toffees have signed Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa, but it is yet to be seen how he will get on at Everton and he has been labelled as defensive-minded.

Everton’s midfield needs a creative spark in there. Abdoulaye Doucoure’s form dropped off in the second half of last season and that saw a dry-up of goals from open play which needs rectifying going into the new season.

Winger

Everton lack a winger who is on the books permanently as the signings of Jesper Lindstrøm and Jack Harrison are both season-long loans.

A big thing Everton lacked last season was pace as many attacks looked very lethargic, but it was simply down to the players not being fast enough.

Lindstrøm does offer that pace on one side, however Everton could do with another player with pace just to give a different dimension and threat to the team, while also having that creative spark from wide areas.

Dwight McNeil does offer his threats from set-pieces and has a very good delivery on him, but pace is not one of his strengths.

Conclusion

Like every club in the Premier League, Everton want to improve on their previous season as much as they can and signings are a huge factor in that aim so Kevin Thelwell and Sean Dyche must get it right this summer.

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